Director, Process Engineering

The Role:

As the Director of Process Engineering, you will lead the designing, building, commissioning, and optimizing of our proprietary manufacturing facilities. You will create new manufacturing processes using information from our lab and pilot plants, as well as drive continuous improvement of existing systems and processes. This role will report to the VP Engineering, responsible for supporting, hiring, growing, and managing a team that works effectively and in close collaboration with internal and external partners including Process Sciences, Product Development, Quality, and Manufacturing teams.

Our ideal candidate will have experience designing, building, installing and commissioning large food processing capital projects. You will be a proven leader that excels as an individual contributor, co-collaborator, and manager. You should have an innate curiosity for understanding and solving unique challenges for a first to market product in mycelium-based plant protein from a physical and chemical perspective and a deep experience in sanitary design of equipment and manufacturing facilities. You will be able to provide transformational leadership to build a strong engineering team to deliver results and be enthusiastic about developing people and high-performance teams

You will be able to work independently and be able to creatively adapt to changing timelines and priorities. You should be able to understand the complete production process from raw materials through sanitary processing and wastewater discharge. You will explore evolving technology to apply to the manufacturing process and ensure the best technology selection to deliver cost and performance. Finally, you will be a vital contributor to creating the reality of sustainable, ethical, and delicious foods.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction for process technologies (fermentation and food processing), controls & automation, facilities, and utilities systems.
• Develop the at-scale processes for producing our highly nutritious fermented mycelium product.
• Integrate pilot scale data into process equipment and facility designs.
• Utilize your experience in food processing design and facilities to grow our protein extraction capacity and yields, particularly in the areas of sanitary design, process harvesting, media prep and delivery, and facilities layout.
• Develop and communicate our process designs using best-value option analysis, -return-on-investment economic models, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, process narratives and heat and mass balances. Utilize data developed in collaboration with Process Sciences, Pilot Plant, Food Sciences and Product Development to scale up processes to commercial scale
• Identify equipment and suppliers to meet process requirements. Develop and execute capital projects to implement plant and process improvements
• Provide technical support for the manufacturing process to improve capacity, quality, and safety.
• Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including timelines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects domestically and internationally.
• Partner with VP of Engineering and Talent Team to attract, hire and develop a high-performance team.

What you will bring

• You have a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Biological Sciences Engineering.
• 8 years of engineering leadership experience with directing cross-functional teams and engineering organizations.
• 5 years’ experience developing and executing large scale food production capital projects including leading projects from concept through operations, equipment specification, installation, and commissioning of sanitary design of processes and facilities.
• Experience in food processing, fermentation processing, CIP, HTST, aseptic/sterile processing, and liquid processing systems.
• Experience with utilities system – high pressure steam systems, RO, compressed air, ammonia Refrigeration, and wastewater treatment.
• Experience and understanding of process controls & automation, distributed control systems, SCADA, and PLC integration.
• Experience with managing, building, and developing a high-performance team to deliver technology solutions in a fast-paced, results-focused start-up environment experience in Sanitary 3-A, and FDA food processing as well as HAACP, OSHA, and other norms for food production
• Strong change management skills, and an ability to manage projects through influence as well as through contractual arrangements.
• You are an honest collaborator who thrives on sharing their knowledge and taking in the experiences of others; an excellent communicator, who can work effectively with all.
• Innovative and creative critical thinker with an analytical mindset and strong critical thinking skills
• Self-motivated, flexible, adaptable, and possessing ability to roll with the punches in a fast-moving, fast-growing, start-up environment.
• A servant leadership mindset to support everyone on your team to achieve maximum performance and growth for the organization.

Additional Information & Requirements:

This is a full time regular position based out of our Headquarters in Boulder, CO   
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment, subject to accommodation as required by law.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Compensation: $150k - $200k