Senior Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves

Job Summary:

The Senior Mechanical Engineer – Sanitary Valves is a technical leader responsible for driving the design, development, and standardization of sanitary valve systems across multiple food and beverage manufacturing sites. This role leads engineering efforts to ensure valves meet the highest hygienic design standards, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability. The senior engineer oversees complex custom designs, validation protocols, supplier partnerships, and cross-functional initiatives to optimize valve performance and support continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Design Innovation

• Lead advanced design and engineering of sanitary valves, including custom solutions for complex fluid handling applications.

• Champion hygienic design principles ensuring compliance with 3-A Sanitary Standards, FDA, USDA, and other regulatory requirements.

• Drive standardization initiatives to harmonize valve designs and components across sites for cost efficiency and maintainability.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Manage multiple engineering projects related to valve upgrades, new installations, and process improvements.

• Collaborate with process engineering, quality, automation, maintenance, and supply chain teams to align valve engineering with business and operational goals.

• Lead technical reviews, risk assessments, and root cause analysis for valve-related issues.

Validation & Compliance Oversight

• Oversee validation strategies for CIP/SIP and cleanability performance of valve systems.

• Ensure comprehensive documentation, including design records, validation protocols, and regulatory submissions.

• Lead support during regulatory audits and inspections focusing on valve systems.

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with valve OEMs and suppliers.

• Evaluate supplier performance, review technical proposals, and negotiate specifications and pricing.

• Drive supplier audits and qualification to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

• Mentor junior engineers and technicians on sanitary valve design, regulatory compliance, and troubleshooting.

• Lead training sessions and develop technical guidelines to elevate organizational expertise.

Key Focus Areas:

• Advanced sanitary valve design and customization

• Regulatory compliance and hygienic design leadership

• Project and vendor management across multiple sites

• Validation, documentation, and audit readiness

• Staff mentorship and technical training

Qualifications & Skills:

Education:

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

• Master’s degree or relevant advanced certifications preferred

Certifications (Preferred):

• 3-A Sanitary Design or EHEDG certifications

• PMP or Lean Six Sigma credentials a plus

Experience:

• 7–10+ years in sanitary valve engineering within food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or related process industries

• Proven track record leading valve design innovation, standardization, and compliance programs

Skills:

• Expert knowledge of sanitary valve technologies, hygienic design standards, and regulatory requirements

• Strong project management and leadership capabilities

• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Ability to influence and drive change across multi-site operations