Beyond Meat, Inc., otherwise known as Beyond The Plant Protein Company, is a plant protein company offering a portfolio of plant-based products made from simple ingredients without GMOs, no added hormones or antibiotics, and 0mg of cholesterol per serving. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat's core products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet.
The Process Engineer will report to the Head of Commercialization and work closely in a cross-functional environment with Engineering, R&D, Quality, and Operations teams. This role is responsible for advancing Beyond Meat's innovative products from early feasibility through full production readiness, supporting manufacturing, and enabling successful, on-time product launches.
The Process Engineer will focus on food process engineering, process development, and scale-up, ensuring manufacturing systems consistently deliver high-quality products that meet defined specifications. Key responsibilities include developing and implementing processes during feasibility and pilot phases, followed by scaling, commissioning, and supporting production-ready manufacturing operations.
The ideal candidate is an engineer with 1-2 years of relevant experience, strong process development fundamentals, and a clear interest in translating bench-scale concepts into pilot and commercial production, particularly within innovative food products. Success in this role requires a collaborative, hands-on, and results-driven mindset. This position may require frequent and/or irregular travel.
Responsibilities:
Assist in the ideation, design, setup, and execution of pilot-scale experiments
Support new product production runs and commercialization activities
Identify, evaluate, and test new equipment and technologies for pilot-scale product development
Optimize and troubleshoot processes and equipment to achieve target product quality attributes
Communicate process engineering learnings, results, and manufacturing capabilities clearly across cross-functional commercialization teams
Collaborate between R&D and Operations teams on new and renovated product development programs to meet program objectives, manufacturability, timelines, and cost targets
Organize and conduct process engineering development, including PFDs, energy and mass balance, process and equipment trials, process design, specification, and commissioning
Verify food manufacturing processes and equipment for production capability, scale, and readiness
Identify key product and process parameters and scale-up factors critical to commercial success
Assess existing and emerging food manufacturing equipment and technologies; propose innovative solutions for future commercialization
Advance product and process development from feasibility through new product introduction (NPI) and production launch
Ensure design-for-manufacturability and process viability at pilot scale while meeting project objectives
Integrate quality and food safety requirements, including critical control points, into equipment and process specifications
Support equipment and tooling selection by developing engineering specifications and assisting with procurement, installation, and commissioning
Contribute to cost estimates, capital and expense budgets, and associated project plans for process engineering activities
Maintain and follow GMP and Lab safety protocols in compliance with EH&S guidelines
Requirements:
BS in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, or Food Process Engineering - required
1-2 years of relevant food process engineering experience working with R&D, Commercialization, and Operations in NPI process development, production scale-up, and commercial launches - required
Prior experience in the food industry - required
Experience with GMP and SQF systems - preferred
Computer literacy in Microsoft 365 (Office, Teams, Outlook, etc.), DOE software, AutoCAD, CFD
Proven engineering experience in a growth-oriented business environment, with a track record of overcoming difficult challenges to achieve business and project objectives
Demonstrated success in process engineering development, scale-up, and commissioning including high-impact work output, trials, and production launches
Strong problem-solving ability to simplify complex processes and implement practical solutions
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Work environment: Willingness to travel up to 25% to manufacturing facilities and suppliers. Hands-on involvement with equipment and experimental work during process scale-up. Ability to stand or sit for extended periods and perform physical tasks including climbing, kneeling, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs. Position is in El Segundo, California, in a mix of Pilot Plant, Laboratory, Plant Facilities, and Office environments; requires a tolerance for high worker traffic, close quarters, noise, odors, and varying room temperatures and lighting.
Compensation: The starting annual base pay for this role is between USD $100,000 and $115,000. The actual base pay depends on factors such as training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, and market demands, and may also include bonus, equity, and benefits.
Beyond The Plant Protein Company 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, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants must be authorized to work for a U.S. employer; E-Verify is used to validate employment eligibility. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship at this time.
More info: This is an on-site, full-time role based in El Segundo, California. Apply via the link below. Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close this vacancy at any time.
