Innovation Process Developer

About the Role

Freshpet Inc is seeking a highly skilled Innovation Engineer to join our team. As an Innovation Engineer, you will be responsible for leading the development of new processes and products by designing and conducting experiments, recording experimental data, and communicating results through project updates and process evaluations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess equipment, process parameters, production capabilities, and product characteristics in the Pilot Plant and conduct plant trials.
• Work and communicate seamlessly with formulators and R&D product developers, as well as marketing, operations, engineering, and quality assurance team members in the design of new products and processes for innovation.
• Be a self-starter with a genuine passion for innovation and improvement.
• Support the high-level vision for culture and growth and be comfortable with a hands-on approach and style.
• Be a member of the Engineering team and report to the Engineering Manager.
• Have day-to-day and technical direction from the Vice President, R&D.

Requirements

• BS degree in Engineering plus additional training or course work.
• 5 years of experience in the food industry, preferably in meat, pet food, or ready-to-eat food development or manufacturing.
• 3 years of experience managing multiple projects in a manufacturing or development environment.
• Hands-on trouble-shooting skills.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Intellectual curiosity, innovation, and initiative.
• Familiarity with GMPs, quality attributes, critical control points, GFSI requirements, and audits.
• Demonstrated responsiveness and personal flexibility, including willingness to adjust work hours to match project requirements and willingness to travel.
• Self-starter with the ability to establish relations and interface with outside vendors, contractors, and/or cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable with an informal can-do culture.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, AutoCAD) and knowledge of industrial control systems.

What We Offer

Freshpet Inc offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan, and more.

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce

Freshpet Inc embraces and encourages our employees' differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Freshpet Inc aims to foster, cultivate, and preserve a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and company's achievement as well. Freshpet Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimers

Freshpet Inc is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet Inc via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet Inc. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet Inc as a result of the referral or through other means.