Food Production Research Engineer - Technical Project Lead

about 3 years ago
Full time role
Seattle, WA, US... more
Seattle, WA, US... more

Company

At Rebellyous Foods, we make delicious, juicy plant-based chicken nuggets, patties, and chicken strips. Our ready-to-heat and serve foods cook ...

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Job Description

Food Production Research Engineer - Technical Project Lead

Updated January 2020

Rebellyous Foods (RF) is an early-stage, plant-based food start-up. As a food production and manufacturing technology company, we are working to substantially increase the volume and lower the price of specific, high-quality plant-based meat products to effectively serve the foodservice market to replace animal-based meat on a large scale. We achieve this through the design, development, and implementation of new production equipment, methods and systems for enhanced plant-based meat production.

Rebellyous Foods is seeking a conscientious, flexible, and detail-oriented Food Production Research Engineer - Technical Project Lead to support design, prototyping, and building of new equipment for the production of plant-based meat.  We are seeking team members who enjoy making a difference, being a part of a high-performing team, and who take pride in working in a fast-paced, constantly changing startup environment and thrive working in an intensive manufacturing work environment. We are seeking mission-focused and dedicated individuals to work collaboratively with several departments and to strategically grow the company.  

Flexibility, hard work, and keen follow through are critical for success for employees in a startup environment. Frequent after hours and weekend work is required. Working at Rebellyous is an extraordinary opportunity to get in on the ground level with a fast growing, mission-focused start-up and to help build the company. 

Core Responsibilities: 

  • Design, prototype, test, and build new prototype equipment in collaboration with the Production Ops and Product Development departments. 
  • Serve as a strong team lead to provide technical project management and team direction.
  • Lead design and development of new processing line equipment.
  • Coordinate R&D efforts in collaboration with Rebellyous Foods’ production and product development teams. 
  • Design and support pilot and production scale facilities based on new equipment, processes, and products.
  • Extensively explore, test, uncover, and propose new manufacturing methods for current and future production lines.  
  • Design for advanced preventative controls for new production methods, equipment, and facilities based on principles of sanitary design.
  • Use computer aided design (CAD) software to model new equipment designs or concepts.  
  • Use finite element analysis (FEA) and/or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model material processing in production equipment.  Update models from bench test data. 
  • Evaluate new technologies for facility operation and management for implementation in future plants.  
  • Develop equipment and facility replication plans to support expansion.  
  • Lead specifically assigned R&D efforts, including directing other engineers and interns.
  • Maintain product, facilities, and R&D engineering needs assessments and research plans and data. 
  • Design of experiments (DOE) to determine optimal production processes, equipment, and recipes. 
  • Simultaneously support multiple experimental food production projects. 
  • Propose & research new food production projects/equipment in response to bottlenecks or waste in production line engineering and facility needs.   
  • Establish food safety protocols for new production equipment in accordance with FSMA, National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and state food and agricultural agencies.
  • Evaluate new and novel technologies for facility design, operation, and establishment. 
  • Coordinate with third-parties to facilitate the fabrication of prototypes and equipment.
  • Support and grow company safety initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive facility budget for R&D efforts, when applicable.

Qualifications: Candidates should have the following credentials:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, equipment engineering, manufacturing engineering, food engineering or similar degree is required. Graduate degrees are preferred. 
  • Experience using parametric-based CAD modeling programs (AutoDesk Inventor or similar preferred).
  • Experience or education in FEA and/or CFD is highly preferred. 
  • Four to six years working in the food or related industry, preferably in direct food manufacturing or in production or equipment engineering. 
  • Experience leading and managing short and long-term engineering projects and coordinating with internal employees and external suppliers, vendors, and consultants. 
  • Direct experience designing equipment and automation systems is necessary, preferably in the food industry. 
  • Experience designing ‘smart’ buildings and facilities preferably in the food industry is helpful. 
  • Knowledgeable in sanitary design principles.
  • Willing to travel approximately 20% of the time to support R&D projects, if necessary. 
  • Willing to apply creative solutions to solve workflow bottlenecks; seeking a focused, fast problem solver
  • Enjoys working with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. 
  • Exemplary leadership skills (no exceptions).
  • Compassionate people-management skills at all levels.
  • Commitment to design for safety and supporting company safety initiatives.
  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to excellence.
  • Experience in a start-up environment is highly desirable.
  • Mission focused. Our company works to end factory farming. 
  • Excellent communication skills – written and verbal. 
  • Flexible and willing to take on any tasks to support team efforts.
  • Good research skills and highly organized.
  • Must operate with a sense of urgency and attention to detail.
  • Capable of making decisions independently and exercising excellent judgment.
  • Handles confidential information with discretion.
  • Strong work ethic, integrity and personal accountability.
  • Proficiency in G-Suite applications.
  • Ability to obtain a WA state food worker card.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license. 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: All positions regularly require long hours and can require weekend or after-hours work.

Highly Desirable Characteristics

  • Interest in the plant-based meat industry 
  • Experience in the food industry

Physical Demands: Ability to stand for long periods of time, stoop, kneel, and reach regularly. Ability to lift, push, pull up to 35 pounds. We can provide reasonable accommodations for people who may not be able to meet these requirements for specific reasons.

Location:  Greater Seattle area. This position is located at our facility in West Seattle, WA. 

Salary: Competitive.  Commensurate with position and experience. 

How to apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter explaining your skill set, experience, and interest in working at Rebellyous to apply@rebellyous.com.  

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy:  At Rebellyous Foods, we aim to attract the most qualified and creative problem-solvers to the mission of providing sustainable, affordable meat alternatives. In achieving that goal, RF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our operations. Women, minorities, people of color, and those with non-traditional educational and experiential backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Further, we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Discrimination or harassment in any form or based on any of the above factors is prohibited, as is retaliation against a person who has made a complaint or given information regarding possible violations of our policy.

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