Senior Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves 

Job Summary:

The Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves plays a key role in the design, development, and optimization of sanitary valve systems used in hygienic food and beverage processing environments. This role manages valve design improvements, compliance verification, and technical support for capital projects and plant operations. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers to ensure valves meet regulatory standards, performance requirements, and maintainability.

Key Responsibilities:

Valve Design & Development

• Lead design and specification of sanitary valves, including butterfly, diaphragm, and mixproof valves, focusing on hygienic design and operational reliability.

• Perform engineering analysis to improve valve performance, durability, and cleanability.

• Support custom valve design requests and modifications to meet specific process needs.

Regulatory Compliance & Validation

• Ensure valve designs comply with 3-A Sanitary Standards, FDA, USDA, and internal food safety requirements.

• Lead or support validation of valve cleanability and CIP/SIP performance, including preparation of validation documentation.

Technical Documentation & Standardization

• Develop and maintain detailed valve specifications, technical drawings, BOMs, and material certificates.

• Standardize valve components and design practices across multiple plants to streamline procurement and maintenance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Supplier Management

• Collaborate with process engineering, maintenance, quality, and automation teams to support valve installations and troubleshooting.

• Manage supplier relationships, evaluate vendor proposals, and conduct technical reviews to ensure compliance with design standards.

Key Focus Areas:

• Advanced sanitary valve design and customization

• Compliance with hygienic and regulatory standards

• Validation and performance testing support

• Supplier evaluation and cross-functional teamwork

Qualifications & Skills:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related field

Experience:

• 3–5 years of experience in sanitary valve design or related engineering roles in food, beverage, or pharmaceutical industries

Skills:

• Strong understanding of sanitary valve types and hygienic design principles

• Experience with 3-A Sanitary Standards, FDA food contact requirements, and validation protocols

• Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and engineering analysis tools

• Excellent communication, project coordination, and supplier management skills

• Ability to analyze and solve complex engineering problems