Lead Process Engineer - Dallas, TX Hub

Kindly be advised that we are handling the recruitment for this position internally and are not partnering with external recruiters.
We are a Biology Company
Plantible, backed by Astanor Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Piva Capital, Kellogg's, and Vectr Ventures, is a vertically integrated biology company that is unlocking the power in plants in service of people & planet. Our mission is to create solutions that empower customers to make sustainable and regenerative choices without compromising on quality. We are beginning with the food industry. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and continued success:
Plantible Introduction:
To support Plantible's rapid production scaling of its first commercial production facility in Texas, the company has opened a hub in Dallas, TX. The commercial production facility "Ranchito" in Eldorado, TX is a first of its kind greenfield development project, completely designed and built by Plantible.
The facility has an approximate footprint of 140 acres, and includes a series of greenhouses and cultivation infrastructure, as well as a processing facility and all utilities required to support the operation. The processing facility and support utilities have been completed to their final capacity, and greenhouse construction has been scaling along the timeline of the processing facility's commissioning and capacity scaling.
Plantible sells its Rubi Protein to a number of well known food and feed companies. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside top-engineers on the further development and growth of the modular production facility and its operations philosophy: Ranchito is an operational example of what much larger facilities will look like.
Rapid increase in market demand for Rubi Protein has led to a need for additional support in the engineering team. Several process improvements in both the cultivation and processing infrastructure are planned to be implemented over the next 12 months, after which the company will focus on the detailed engineering of rapidly scalable cultivation and processing modules based on the design and operational performance of Ranchito.
How you will contribute:
You will be part of the growing Engineering Team, playing a critical role in efficient scale-up design and implementation of processing technologies to further improve the performance of our commercial production facility. Your skills in Process Engineering are put to work in the optimization of existing process steps and processing infrastructure, as well as in the development of new process steps and in further scale up of the existing facility.
This job will be based at our Texas hub. Plantible's commercial production facility in Eldorado, Texas, is approximately 3 to 4 hours of travel from the hub, and regular travel is required. The candidate is expected to be on-site when engineering support is needed to work with the operations teams, construction team, and contractors. Responsibilities include designing, improving, and installing equipment and engineering solutions to enhance the performance and robustness of our commercial facility.
What you will be working on:
Engineering existing and new developments:

• Develop, design, install, and optimize full-scale manufacturing systems to maximize yields, reduce costs, and improve equipment performance and reliability within the production process.
• Focus on scaling up manufacturing technologies developed in our pilot plant.

Project Management:

• Prepare project documentation, including volume and mass balances, budgets, technical and quality specifications, and SOPs.
• Coordinate with suppliers and contractors and to source materials and prepare for contracting services.
• Support and lead major capital projects to expand and improve our commercial production facility.

What your week will look like:

• Work closely with the engineering, operations and pilot teams to optimize current processes and scale up new developments.
• Spend time at the commercial facility working on process improvements & new engineering developments to successful tech transfers.
• Develop and communicate process designs using process flow diagrams, P&IDs, process narratives, and volume and mass balances.
• Create and execute capital projects to implement plant and process improvements utilizing data developed in collaboration with other teams.
• Monitor project progression, resolve any issues that arise, and coordinate team activities to maintain the approved schedule.
• Update management team and other project engineers on project progress and requirements regularly in written reports and presentations.
• Control project pace and budget and manage project changes as needed.

What you bring to Plantible:

• B.S. in Process or Chemical Engineering, or similar.
• 3 to 5 years of experience designing and building food processing systems, operations, or facilities.
• Hands-on mentality for working with pilot and scale-up equipment and processes.
• Experience in running engineering projects from project charter to successful tech transfer into operations.
• Acute curiosity about process performance and plant operations optimization.
• Desire to collaborate with colleagues in other departments but also be able to work independently.
• Ability to adapt to changing timelines and priorities.
• Continuous learner, excited to understand the complete production process from cultivation to packaging.

In prior roles you gained experiences such as:

• Process engineering and design, including creating volume and mass balances, process flow diagrams, scaling up processes from pilot to commercial scales.
• Capital project engineering, including leading projects from concept through operations, equipment specification, installation, and commissioning.
• Experience scaling products between bench, pilot, and manufacturing scales.
• Experience in Sanitary 3-A, USDA, and FDA food processing as well as GFSI, HACCP, OSHA, and other norms for food production.
• Hands-on engineering in oil and gas.

Choose Plantible Foods
Joining Plantible means contributing to a sustainable future for all. We are a venture backed startup that is both spreading happiness amongst our employees and to current and future generations. We believe diversity creates uniqueness. Our team is composed of highly talented people with different interests and hobbies, which makes for a rich working environment.
At Plantible we are continually working on our offerings to foster the best team. Check it out!

• Competitive health and wellness benefits
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Unlimited PTO Program
• Paid Holidays
• 401k Program
• Career Stipend
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Working in a rapidly growing, flexible and entrepreneurial environment
• Team building and company-wide events
• Financial support with your relocation, if necessary, ensuring a smooth transition
• And of course, lots of beautiful land for outdoor activities!

Plantible Foods is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Plantible Foods reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.
If you feel your skill set does not meet all listed qualifications for the role, we still encourage you to apply. As we continue to grow our company, we are seeking a range of candidates and would gladly consider you for other current or upcoming roles that may be a fit!