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Senior R&D Process Engineer

The J.M. Smucker Company
United States, Ohio, Canton
Jan 29, 2026

Your Opportunity as the Senior R&D Process Engineer

Help shape the future of Uncrustables innovation! Develop and implement proprietary process technologies that bring new products to life-from concept to commercialization. Optimize existing processes and lead projects that drive efficiency and growth. If you enjoy mentoring others and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, we'd love to have you on our team.

Location: Orrville, OH

Work Arrangements: hybrid, 50% onsite or more depending on business need

In this role you will:

  • Develop robust processes for Uncrustables R&D, innovation, renovation, and technology initiatives.

  • Design, plan, coordinate and execute experiments from bench-top through manufacturing scale.Accountabilities can include creating test plans, commissioning and qualification plans, process flow diagrams, designing equipment and tooling, data analysis & interpretation, assessing process feasibility/capability, and scale-up risks/mitigations.

  • Lead a technical and cross-functional team to successfully commission & launch new innovation projects.

  • Lead technical team members to develop key tasks, timelines, and project plans for timely completion of goals.

  • Document technical findings and clearly articulate findings and recommendations through written and verbal summaries to the leadership team and cross-functionally.

  • Apply fundamental engineering principles in combination with a creative mindset & critical thinking to develop solutions.

  • Be a subject matter expert on R&D equipment design, operation, and troubleshooting.

  • Lead and support testing in PRL.

  • Identify and investigate new process technologies.

  • Identify and communicate process scale-up risks and mitigations.

  • Lead patent opportunities for technologies and processes.

  • Interface with equipment suppliers, service providers, manufacturing facilities and relevant business functions to achieve goals.

  • Drive decisions and recommendations based on data.

  • Provide coaching and function as a resource for junior engineers.

  • Become fluent and participate in JMS Key Element and Quality programs to support R&D.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Chemical/Mechanical/Food Engineering)

  • 5+ years of process engineering experience

  • 3+ years of experience developing and launching new process innovation and technologies

  • 3+ years leading projects from benchtop to scale up and commercialization

  • Experience functioning as a technical leader in process engineering including equipment troubleshooting

  • Skilled in communicating difficult technical concepts and managing complex learning plans to convey technical information cross-functionally and to leadership

  • Can plan and execute designed experiments (DOE) to generate relevant process data to identify and mitigate process and product risks

  • Strong collaborative nature across functional teams to achieve shared goals

  • Project management experience and strong personal leadership, able to work autonomously to plan, implement, monitor, and deliver objectives

  • Ability to work a hybrid working schedule based on Company Core Weeks and business needs - with in office presence at or above 50% regularly; start times based on work needs may be before 8 AM (~25% of work days)

  • Approximately 20% travel; normally a minimum of 3-5 days consecutive per trip

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

  • Experience in consumer packaged goods industry

  • Controls/PLC programming experience

  • Proficy and Historian experience and training

  • Proficient using statistical software (JMP, Minitab, etc.)

  • Maintaining excellent documentation

  • Food Safety - PCQI training

Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn

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#LI-Hybrid

#INDSA

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