Lead Process Engineer

Who You Are:  

The Lead Process Engineer is a technically strong yet highly collaborative engineer who thrives on process design, partnership, and purpose. You bring deep experience in food or beverage manufacturing ideally within co-manufacturing environments and excels at designing, scaling, and optimizing sanitary, efficient, and sustainable production lines. Equally comfortable on the plant floor and in cross-functional project meetings, you lead through influence rather than authority, building trust-based relationships with co-packers and internal teams. You combine hands-on process expertise with strong project management skills, data-driven problem solving, and a builder mindset that turns complex challenges into practical, high-performing solutions. 

 

The Task at Hand: 

The Lead Process Engineer is responsible for designing, scaling, and optimizing food manufacturing processes in collaboration with R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and co-manufacturing partners. This role leads process and line design initiatives from concept through full-scale production, ensuring efficiency, food safety, and scalability while maintaining high standards for quality and sustainability. Acting as a key technical liaison with co-packers, the engineer drives process improvements, leads equipment and technology evaluations, supports new line installations, and manages technical projects that enhance throughput, reliability, and product consistency. They provide hands-on support during trials and startups, develop robust process documentation, and help strengthen both internal and external technical capabilities to ensure reliable, efficient, and compliant manufacturing performance. 

 

In This Role, You will: 

Process & Line Design 

• Lead end-to-end process and line design initiatives in partnership with co-packers, translating new product concepts into manufacturing, food-safe, and efficient operations. 

• Work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and co-manufacturers to define product and process requirements, equipment needs, and infrastructure readiness. 

• Co-develop equipment and line configurations with co-manufacturing partners, balancing performance, flexibility, scalability, and cost while ensuring compliance with sanitary design and food safety regulations (GFSI, FSMA, FDA). 

• Evaluate and select technologies, equipment, and automation systems that enhance throughput, yield, product quality, and sustainability. 

• Support co-packers in designing and implementing new installations, expansions, and upgrades, ensuring long-term reliability, cleanability, and ease of operation. 

• Build and maintain strong technical partnerships with co-manufacturers to foster open communication, problem-solving, and continuous improvement from trials through daily production. 

Project Management & Execution 

• Serve as the technical project lead for process and line design initiatives, managing all phases from feasibility and design through commissioning, validation, and handoff. 

• Develop and manage detailed project plans, budgets, and timelines; ensure clear stakeholder communication and accountability for deliverables. 

• Coordinate cross-functional input from internal and external teams to align scope, specifications, and performance expectations. 

• Lead FATs, SATs, and validation trials with equipment suppliers and co-manufacturers to confirm process capability and quality compliance. 

• Support capital project planning, including cost estimation, justification, and ROI analysis for new lines or process improvements. 

• Drive adherence to project timelines and technical standards while balancing agility and practicality in dynamic co-manufacturing environments. 

Co-Manufacturing & Technical Partnership 

• Act as the primary technical liaison with co-manufacturers, ensuring consistent alignment on process design, equipment standards, and operational performance. 

• Evaluate new co-packers, verifying their technical capabilities, food safety standards, and alignment with company requirements. 

• Partner with co-manufacturers on capacity expansion and new line buildouts, providing guidance on layout, equipment selection, commissioning, and startup validation. 

• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and optimization efforts at partner sites, leveraging data to drive efficiency, quality, and cost improvements.  

• Promote proactive communication, shared accountability, and long-term technical excellence across the co-manufacturing network. 

Leadership, Documentation & Support 

• Develop internal process engineering capability, mentoring a junior engineer and helping strengthen the team’s technical depth, project management skills, and collaborative approach. 

• Support co-manufacturing teams by sharing knowledge, tools, and training resources that enhance collective process understanding and operational excellence. 

• Develop and maintain clear, standardized documentation — including process specifications, validation protocols, SOPs, and training materials — to ensure consistency and compliance across all partners. 

• Support on-site line startups, trials, and production runs to verify process performance and ensure products meet quality standards. 

• Travel up to 40% to co-manufacturing and supplier sites to oversee trials, provide technical support, and strengthen partner relationships. 

• Perform other tasks assigned to support company initiatives and operational excellence. 

 

In This Role, You’ll Bring With You: 

• Minimum 5 years' experience in food or beverage manufacturing, process development, or scale-up engineering. 

• Experience working with HPP technology highly preferred.

• Demonstrated understanding of sanitary design principles and food safety requirements. 

• Proven ability to manage and develop direct reports, with experience leading engineers or technical staff. 

• Strong track record of collaboration with co-manufacturers, vendors, and cross-functional project teams. 

• Proficiency in process modeling, data analysis, and statistical tools. 

• Excellent communication skills and a hands-on, problem-solving approach 

• Ability to travel up to 40% required. Additionally, we “Farmers” do meet as a company and/or as a department a few times a year.  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline. 

 

Compensation:  

• Salary, Non-Exempt, Full-Time 

• The anticipated salary range for this position is $110,000.00-140,000.00. The actual hourly offer will carefully consider a few factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Certain positions are eligible for additional forms of compensation such as bonuses, stipends, equity, and role-specific perks.  

 

Additional: 

• Remote-first work environment  

• Annual Bonus  

• 401(k) program + 4% company match after three months  

• New Hire Remote Life Stipend + annual Nourish and Nurture Allowance  

• Monthly Cell and Internet Stipend  

• Quarterly Farm-to-Fridge home deliveries and Employee Discounts  

• New Parents: Up to 18 weeks of paid Parental Leave, Baby Steps Back To Work, 3 months’ supply of Once Upon a Farm products, and breast milk shipping service and support for those who travel after birth for the duration of your breastfeeding journey  

• Unlimited Paid Time Off  

• Paid Volunteer Time  

• Paid Time Off to fulfill civic responsibilities, including jury duty and voting in local, state, and national elections   

• Medical Insurance for the employee is covered at 100% on select plans, with additional plan options at a reduced cost to the employee  

• Vision and Dental Insurance are covered at 100% for the employee and dependents  

• Life insurance  

• Flexible spending account and Health Savings Accounts for applicable plans  

• Employee assistance program (EAP)  

• All other benefits, leaves, and insurance as required by law, based on your specific residence  

• And so much more!  

\n

\n

Who We Are

 

Our Purpose: Drive systemic improvement in childhood nutrition for a healthier, happier, and more equitable world.

 

Our Business: At Once Upon a Farm, farm-fresh taste grows here. We're on a greater mission in providing organic, crave-worthy snacks and meals for children of all ages. Our recipes are crafted with only the best organic ingredients – whole fruits and veggies, cold-pressed (our pouches), or freshly frozen (our meals) to perfection– to support your growing kids at every stage. Each of our organic, non-GMO, non-dairy recipes contains no added sugar and are free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives – just simple, real, nutritious snacks your entire family will love.

 

We support and champion farmers who supply the highest-quality organic ingredients for our foods.  We help parents keep their promise to provide the best nourishment for their children’s bodies and souls. We treat our consumers, customers, suppliers, investors, and all our valued employees with the same high level of dignity and respect that we expect from others. We will always fight for and support efforts to drive positive social change and food justice for the benefit of parents, kids, and families. Lastly, we foster an entrepreneurial and collaborative culture that values humility, honesty, passion, positive social impact, and fun.

 

Our Team: We’re all fully remote, which makes us a highly collaborative, dynamic, and supportive bunch. We share a singular mission to make the world a better place through the highest quality, most delicious, nourishing, and nutritious products made accessible to every home, from our farms to your fridge. And while we’re invested in our product, we’re equally invested in one another's success.

 

Once Upon a Farm is a purpose-driven brand made up of an inclusive group of individuals with diverse backgrounds, passions, and beliefs. We hire self-motivated, independent thinkers and those who are genuinely passionate about improving childhood nutrition for a healthier and happier planet. Bring your whole self to your work at Once Upon a Farm, a proud equal-opportunity employer. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use.

 

In an effort to help us remove unconscious bias from our resume review process, we ask that you please remove all identifying information from your resume (like profile photos) before you upload it. Once Upon a Farm is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment where a diverse group of people can and want to do their best work, and that starts with our hiring practices.

 

Once Upon a Farm, PBC, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all company facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, cast, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

This job description is a summary of duties; it is by no means an all-inclusive list but is merely a broad guide of expected duties.

You must reside in the United States to be considered for this position.