Project Process Engineer

Short Intro and About the Job

At Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams. We are currently looking to hire a Project Process Engineer based in Portland, Oregon!

The Project Process Engineer will lead capital projects, manufacturing improvements, and new product industrialization initiatives within the plant. This role serves as the key engineering partner between manufacturing operations and cross-functional teams, ensuring successful project execution, manufacturing readiness, and successful commercialization of new products and packaging innovations.

This position offers a unique opportunity to manage projects from concept through startup while supporting innovation, productivity, packaging, and process improvement initiatives across the facility.

Key Responsibilities

Capital Project Leadership

• Lead capital projects involving processing, packaging, utilities, and facility improvements.
• Manage projects from concept development through implementation and operational handoff.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, equipment specifications, and implementation plans.
• Coordinate contractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
• Support equipment commissioning, startup, validation, and qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Industrialization & Commercialization

• Serve as the plant engineering lead for product launches, packaging changes, productivity projects, and innovation initiatives.
• Partner with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, and Packaging teams to ensure successful commercialization.
• Lead plant trials, product qualifications, and validation activities.
• Coordinate trial planning, execution, and post-trial analysis.
• Identify manufacturing risks and develop mitigation plans before launch.
• Ensure plant capabilities and operational requirements are incorporated into project design and validation activities.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in manufacturing efficiency, reliability, quality, and productivity.
• Support process optimization initiatives across packaging and processing operations.
• Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Recommend and implement technical improvements that reduce waste, improve quality, and enhance operational performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary engineering liaison between plant operations and cross-functional project teams.
• Build strong working relationships with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, R&D, and external suppliers.
• Provide technical guidance during equipment selection, installation, startup, and production ramp-up.
• Support strategic planning efforts related to manufacturing growth, facility layouts, material handling, and future capital investments.

The salary range for this position is $ $80,000 - $110,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions.

Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

About You

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 3–7 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading capital projects, equipment installations, or process improvement initiatives.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Food, beverage, dairy, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience.
• Experience with packaging systems, process equipment, or industrial automation.
• New Product Introduction (NPI), commercialization, or industrialization experience.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, or similar project management tools.
• Familiarity with OSHA, FDA, GMP, or food safety requirements.

Why Join Us?

• Lead high-impact capital and manufacturing improvement projects.
• Play a key role in bringing innovative products and packaging solutions to market.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, R&D, and Supply Chain leaders.
• Gain broad exposure to capital projects, manufacturing operations, and commercialization activities.
• Opportunity to grow into senior engineering and plant leadership roles.

About Us, We offer and What's next

Life at Danone

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.”

Learn more about Life at Danone

Our Brands

When you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.

Our Purpose

We’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.

Learn more about our mission.

Our Benefits

Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees.

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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