Process Engineering Manager, Food Manufacturing (Contract) at Eat Just

<div class="content-intro"><p class="" data-start="167" data-end="449">Eat Just is on a mission to build a healthier, safer, and more sustainable food system—starting with what’s on your plate. From pioneering plant-based eggs to making real meat without slaughter, we’re reimagining the future of food in ways that are better for people and the planet.</p> <p class="" data-start="451" data-end="714">We’re a lean, passionate team of scientists, chefs, engineers, and operators who believe that doing hard things well can make a meaningful difference. We’ve brought groundbreaking innovations to market, like Just Egg and GOOD Meat, and we’re just getting started.</p> <p class="" data-start="716" data-end="840">If you’re excited by big challenges, real impact, and the chance to shape what the future tastes like—we’d love to meet you.</p> <p class="" data-start="842" data-end="939"><a class="" href="https://ju.st" target="_new" data-start="842" data-end="886">Learn more about Eat Just and our products →</a></p></div><p><strong><em>Please note: We are specifically seeking candidates with industrial/process manufacturing engineering experience (ideally food manufacturing) — not software, consumer product, or general mechanical engineering backgrounds.</em></strong></p> <p>We are seeking a highly experienced manufacturing/process engineering professional to support complex CapEx and infrastructure projects within food manufacturing and process production environments on a part-time/contract basis (~10–20 hours/week for ~6 months, with potential to extend).</p> <p>This is not a general engineering role. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in food process manufacturing, chemical/process engineering, or similarly complex regulated manufacturing environments, including facility infrastructure, process equipment integration, utilities, and production line design.</p> <p>Strong preference for candidates with hands-on experience in food, beverage, dairy, protein, ingredient, fermentation, or other sanitary/process manufacturing industries.</p> <p>This contract requires travel up to 25% domestically and Canada. Ideally individual would be based in Bay Area/available for some onsite in-person meetings at our Headquarters in Emeryville, CA but it is not required.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Scope of Services</strong></p> <p><strong>External Engineering Firm Sourcing &amp; Evaluation</strong></p> <ul> <li>Identify, evaluate, and recommend qualified external engineering firms capable of supporting capital expenditure and manufacturing infrastructure projects.</li> <li>Solicit proposals from selected firms for defined engineering scopes.</li> <li>Provide comparative analysis of proposals, including technical approach, assumptions, cost structure, and schedule.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Technical Oversight &amp; Value Engineering</strong></p> <ul> <li>Serve as the primary technical liaison between the company and selected external engineering firms.</li> <li>Review and challenge engineering assumptions, cost estimates, and technical approaches to ensure designs represent cost-effective and value-engineered solutions.</li> <li>Provide technical input on engineering feasibility, equipment integration, and manufacturing requirements.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Project Management &amp; Coordination</strong></p> <ul> <li>Track engineering deliverables against agreed scope, milestones, and schedule.</li> <li>Maintain organized documentation of engineering plans, deliverables, and technical decisions.</li> <li>Coordinate cross-functional technical reviews and ensure incorporation of stakeholder feedback.</li> <li>Identify risks, constraints, and potential delays early, and escalate appropriately with recommended mitigation strategies.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Facility Integration &amp; Contractor Coordination</strong></p> <ul> <li>Coordinate with general contractors, Facilities Manager, and internal teams to support pilot plant facility integration, including ventilation connections, air handling systems, water supply, and drainage connections.</li> <li>Ensure engineering plans align with facility capabilities and construction timelines.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Site Evaluation &amp; Engineering Support</strong></p> <ul> <li>Travel to manufacturing or partner facilities as needed to evaluate sites, support engineering reviews, coordinate with site engineering teams, and assess feasibility of proposed engineering solutions.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Deliverables</strong></p> <ul> <li>Evaluation and recommendation of external engineering firms for project scopes.</li> <li>Comparative proposal analysis and engineering vendor selection recommendations.</li> <li>Project tracking documentation outlining engineering scope, milestones, risks, and status updates.</li> <li>Technical review feedback and value-engineering recommendations for proposed designs.</li> <li>Coordination of engineering reviews and documentation of key technical decisions.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preferred Candidate Profile</strong></p> <ul> <li>10+ years of engineering experience supporting industrial manufacturing, process manufacturing, or food production environments.</li> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline strongly preferred.</li> <li>Significant experience supporting CapEx, facility expansion, utilities, infrastructure, and manufacturing process projects within food manufacturing or similarly regulated process industries.</li> <li>Deep familiarity with food processing systems, sanitary process design, CIP/COP systems, piping, utilities, production line integration, and food-grade manufacturing environments.</li> <li>Experience working within active manufacturing facilities where uptime, operational continuity, food safety, and production constraints must be carefully managed.</li> <li>Proven ability to oversee and critically evaluate external engineering firms, contractors, equipment vendors, and technical proposals.</li> <li>Strong understanding of value engineering, constructability, process flow optimization, equipment integration, and manufacturing feasibility.</li> <li>Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders including operations, maintenance, quality, food safety, R&amp;D, and external contractors.</li> <li>Comfortable operating in lean, fast-paced environments with evolving priorities, ambiguity, and high ownership expectations.</li> </ul>