Fermentation Process Engineer

The Role:

Meati Foods is a fast-growing food company with fermentation at the core of our business. We are hiring process engineers to support our growth in fermentation capacity with process optimization, development, and troubleshooting at our production facilities as well as at our cutting-edge R&D pilot facility. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be a subject matter expert for cross-functional projects requiring creative solutions to fulfill process optimization and development needs at all levels of our business.

Responsibilities:

     Process Engineering: 

• Apply biological systems engineering principles to fermentation processes and equipment selection
• Specify and design fermentation equipment, including vessels, instrumentation & controls and provides training to operators on new and existing processes and equipment.
• Apply analytic methodology such as statistical process control (SPC) to optimize process conditions to improve yield, quality, and capacity.
• Develops cost justifications, scope, schedule, and budget estimates for new process systems and process upgrades.
• Contribute to fermentation startup and commissioning activities, including onsite field engineering at new production facilities, new system validation and checkout, and the development of standard operating procedures.

     Project Support: 

• Prepares Best Value Option Analysis (BVOA) to compare solutions and cost for best value and provide recommendations to project teams.
• Interfaces with Project Managers and/or contractors, vendors, and maintenance to ensure installation and completion of capital projects.
• Reviews, marks up, and approves drawings and other technical documentation for process systems.
• Develops Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) planning and executes successful FAT.
• Provides field installation supervision, leads commissioning, and field troubleshooting during startup phase.
• Identifies and resolves technical problems.
• Communicates project status throughout the organization.
• Develops and executes IQ, OQ, PQ with project team during installation, commissioning, qualification, and verification project phases.
• Adds value by influencing through innovation and continuous improvement.
• Identifies, develops, and implements process improvement projects to increase productivity, reliability, sustainability, and cost reduction.
• Supports a High-Performance Organization (HPO) environment by utilizing a total team approach to process improvements.

Qualifications:

• BS or MS in biochemical, chemical engineering, or equivalent
• 5-7 years’ experience in commercial fermentation. Ideal background in food, pharmaceutical or special chemicals.
• Experience in fermentation facility aseptic design.
• Understanding and experience with Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems design and operation.
• Knowledge and experience with Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) design and operation for aseptic systems.
• Experience with mass balance process flows and calculations, biological and engineering systems modeling, biological systems optimization, automation engineering, engineering research, and/or sustainability engineering is desired.
• Construction oversight and commissioning experience.
• Must be open to 20% - 25% travel.

Nice-to-Have (but not required):

• Understanding of PLC programming and process control fundamentals.
• Experience with AutoCAD or Visio
• Lean Six Sigma Certified (Green Belt)
• Statistical Process Control

**Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Meati™ we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.**

Compensation: 

The base salary range for this role is $70,000 - $100,000 annually, which is just one aspect of our total compensation package. In addition to the salary, this position is eligible for a potential annual bonus and equity! Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance at no cost to the employee (for employee-only coverage)
• 401K with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Floating Holidays
• Monthly reimbursements for personal health and wellness expenses
• Mental health programs at no cost
• Parental Leave, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability coverage, and AD&D 

Equal Employment Opportunity: Eat Meati™ is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Vaccine verification will be required prior to the start of employment at Eat Meati™.

About Eat Meati™

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Eat Meati™ is on a mission to build Good Energy™ from the ground up. We work closely with Mother Nature to cultivate the complete protein she intended — one that’s been the root of our living world for millennia. We’re connecting and empowering eaters everywhere to evolve energetically. We believe food should be simple, clean, and of course, delicious, which is why grow and nourish our mushroom root to create nutrient-rich, whole food protein everyone can enjoy. Get to know more about Meati™ at meati.com.

Our team is passionate about making the world a better place through good health and wellness, positive climate impact, and equitable access to nutrition around the world. This passion translates into the culture of our office, making Eat Meati™ a lively, enjoyable, innovative, and inclusive place to work. This is an exciting time to be a part of the Meati™ team and the growing plant-based meat category..