The Chief Engineer – Fluid Systems & Sanitary Design is a senior technical authority responsible for the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of fluid handling systems and hygienic process design across food and beverage manufacturing facilities. This role ensures that all liquid processing systems—including CIP, SIP, product transfer, and utility interfaces—are engineered to deliver performance, safety, regulatory compliance, and hygienic integrity. As a cross-functional technical leader, the Chief Engineer drives innovation in sanitary design, system reliability, and process efficiency while mentoring engineering teams and supporting major capital initiatives.
Develop and enforce corporate standards for sanitary design of fluid systems, piping, and process equipment in compliance with 3-A, EHEDG, and FDA regulations.
Oversee the hygienic engineering of new systems including tanks, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and clean-in-place (CIP) infrastructure.
Conduct design reviews to ensure microbiological safety, cleanability, and regulatory compliance in fluid system installations.
Lead the design, specification, and implementation of fluid handling systems (product, CIP, water, steam, glycol, etc.).
Provide expert guidance on flow dynamics, pressure management, thermal efficiency, and material compatibility.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives targeting throughput, yield, energy use, and waste minimization in fluid processes.
Serve as technical SME for capital projects involving process piping, mixing systems, tank farms, and thermal processing.
Collaborate with project engineers, OEMs, and EPCs to ensure technical accuracy, hygienic compliance, and performance in system installations.
Approve P&IDs, isometrics, and design documentation for fluid system installations and upgrades.
Maintain and update design standards aligned with industry best practices and emerging regulatory requirements.
Support risk assessments (e.g., FMEA, HAZOP) for new and existing fluid systems.
Lead root cause analysis and provide corrective action plans for fluid system-related failures or contamination events.
Provide technical leadership across engineering, quality, maintenance, and operations to ensure system reliability and process performance.
Mentor plant and corporate engineering teams on sanitary design principles, fluid mechanics, and hygienic construction practices.
Stay current on industry technologies and serve as an internal consultant for innovation in hygienic system design and fluid processing.
Sanitary and hygienic system design and validation
Fluid mechanics, piping, and thermal process engineering
CIP/SIP system design and optimization
Food safety compliance and hygienic risk mitigation
Technical support for capital projects and system commissioning
Cross-functional leadership and engineering mentorship
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Food Process Engineering required
Master’s degree or PE license preferred
3-A Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE), EHEDG membership, or relevant sanitary design credentials preferred
HACCP, PCQI, or food safety certifications beneficial
15+ years of experience in engineering roles with focus on sanitary fluid systems in food, beverage, dairy, or pharmaceutical manufacturing
Deep expertise in hygienic piping, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, and CIP/SIP systems
Proven success leading technical reviews and guiding complex hygienic design projects
In-depth knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and sanitary design codes
Strong leadership, collaboration, and mentoring abilities
Skilled in CAD, process simulation, and P&ID development
Familiarity with sanitary standards (3-A, ASME BPE, EHEDG) and regulatory frameworks (FDA, FSMA)