Process Project Engineer

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Process Project Engineer based in Murfreesboro, TN.

The Project Engineer manages capital engineering projects within the processing sector of the facility. This role owns the full project lifecycle—from initial specification design through installation, commissioning, and final handover to production.

From your EXPERTISE to our

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner daily with operations and quality teams to execute engineering tasks while ensuring continuous plant operations.
• Vendor Management: Oversee on-site vendor activities, tracking performance, schedules, and safety compliance.
• Equipment Testing: Coordinate comprehensive technical testing for new equipment, including electrical, automation, water, CIP, and product system integrations.
• Commissioning & Training: Lead equipment commissioning, author standard work instructions, and train production and maintenance teams. Monitor initial efficiency metrics and drive punch-list resolution.
• Capacity Planning: Define long-term business requirements by evaluating existing equipment capacity, identifying processing gaps, and validating future R&D needs with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Technical Design: Translate business needs into precise technical specifications for tanks, pumps, valves, and heat exchangers. Benchmark industry best practices to ensure designs align with the site master plan and corporate strategic goals.
• Trials & R&D: Organize and execute all technical and raw material trials with suppliers and R&D to guarantee project feasibility.
• Procurement & Bidding: Prepare request for quotation (RFQ) packages, manage the competitive bidding process, and lead supplier selection.
• Capital Budgeting: Manage internal capital expenditure (CapEx) approval procedures, issue purchase orders, track actual vs. budgeted variances, and control project scope via formal change orders.
• Project Governance: Drive project success using robust project management methodologies, including regular stakeholder alignment meetings, rigorous action-item tracking, and early engagement with plant operations.
• Milestone Execution: Ensure strict adherence to critical project milestones, including programming validation (connected PLCs), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), electrical/water tests, and final acceptance.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous safety protocols across all project phases, ensuring execution meets quality standards and deadlines are met securely.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• A bachelor's degree is required.
• Majors in mechanical engineering or a similar discipline are favored.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing engineering environment is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.
• Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in process engineering principles, fluid dynamics, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex timelines, prioritize competing deliverables, and execute budgets.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver technical presentations and write clear operational procedures.
• Adaptability: Resilient and proactive mindset with the ability to lead effectively within a fast-paced, evolving production environment.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.