The Sanitary Design Specialist is responsible for ensuring that food processing and packaging machinery meet USDA, FDA, FSMA, and 3-A Sanitary Standards. This role supports the engineering and compliance functions by leading the hygienic design and evaluation of equipment across manufacturing sites. The position focuses on cleanability, material compatibility, contamination risk mitigation, and regulatory adherence during equipment design, procurement, and installation phases.
Review and approve equipment designs and layouts for compliance with hygienic and regulatory standards.
Act as a technical liaison between engineering, quality, maintenance, and vendors for sanitary design projects.
Conduct equipment audits and hygienic risk assessments; develop recommendations and action plans for compliance gaps.
Develop and maintain sanitary design specifications and design review checklists based on USDA, FDA, FSMA, and 3-A principles.
Provide input during capital project planning, vendor selection, and equipment fabrication to ensure sanitary integrity.
Support validation and commissioning of new or modified equipment with focus on food safety and cleanability.
Train internal teams on sanitary design principles and conduct design reviews during project development stages.
Participate in cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement and root cause investigations related to contamination or sanitation issues.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related technical field.
Experience:
3–5 years of experience in food and beverage manufacturing or sanitary equipment design.
Hands-on experience reviewing or designing equipment to meet USDA/FDA/3-A Sanitary Standards.
Technical Skills:
Proficient in hygienic design best practices and regulatory standards (e.g., FSMA, 3-A, AMI, EHEDG).
Skilled in interpreting equipment drawings and using CAD tools.
Strong knowledge of clean-in-place (CIP), sanitary welds, materials compatibility, and microbiological risk mitigation.
Familiarity with equipment validation, FAT/SAT, and sanitary inspections.
Soft Skills:
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving mindset.
Ability to influence equipment selection and design decisions.
Effective communicator who can collaborate cross-functionally and lead technical discussions.