---
title: 'AI Automation Engineer at fairlife'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ai-automation-engineer-fairlife-chicago-illinois-vssez45edbj1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# AI Automation Engineer at fairlife

- **Company:** fairlife
- **Location:** Chicago Illinois, United States
- **Compensation:** $85k–$105k
- **Posted:** 2026-08-31
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairlife/jobs/5226345007

## Job description

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit [fairlife.com](http://www.fairlife.com).

job purpose: The AI Automation Engineer will play a key role in advancing fairlife's vision of establishing a world-class Decision Intelligence ecosystem. This role centers on building AI agents and automated workflows that reason, plan, and execute tasks end-to-end — turning manual, repetitive processes into reliable automation across manufacturing, supply chain, and business operations. Working in a modern Microsoft Fabric and Azure environment, the engineer will design, develop, and deploy production-grade agentic systems that connect to enterprise tools and data to unlock operational efficiency and faster, better-informed decisions.

responsibilities:

- Design, build, and deploy AI agents that autonomously reason, plan, and execute multi-step tasks to automate business workflows
- Identify manual, repetitive, and high-friction processes and re-engineer them as reliable, automated agentic workflows
- Orchestrate single- and multi-agent workflows using frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, or AutoGen
- Integrate agents with internal tools, APIs, databases, and enterprise systems — including via the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — to enable reliable, end-to-end task execution
- Implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines to ground agents in fairlife's domain-specific data
- Apply prompt engineering, tool and function calling, and rigorous evaluation to make agents accurate, reliable, and production-ready
- Leverage MLOps/LLMOps best practices to deploy, monitor, evaluate, and continuously improve agentic systems in production
- Build responsible-AI guardrails — safety, human-in-the-loop oversight, transparency, and compliance — into every automated system
- Partner with the Senior Data Scientist and cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize high-impact automation opportunities

skills/qualifications required:

- 2+ years of relevant experience in AI engineering, machine learning engineering, software engineering, or related fields
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI/Machine Learning, Engineering, or a related STEM field (or equivalent practical experience)
- Proficiency in Python and experience building applications with large language models (LLMs) and foundation models
- Hands-on experience with agentic AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen) and orchestration patterns
- Experience with prompt engineering, tool and function calling (including the Model Context Protocol), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, ChromaDB)
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure/Fabric, AWS, or GCP) for scalable AI deployment
- Experience with MLOps/LLMOps practices and responsible AI principles, including monitoring, governance, and compliance
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, including API development, version control (Git), and containerization (Docker)
- Strong communication skills for collaborating with business and technical teams
- A bias toward automation: a track record of spotting repetitive, manual workflows and building tools or agents to eliminate them (preferred)
- Experience in manufacturing and supply chain (preferred)

how fairlife nourishes you:

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
- Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
- Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
- Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
- Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
- 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
- Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
- Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
- Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
- Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
- Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
- Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

'

This position requires current authorization to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This is a hybrid position based in our downtown Chicago office, with an expectation of working onsite three (3) days per week.

position location: Chicago, IL

reports to: Senior Data Scientist, Decision Intelligence

travel requirements: 10%

Exempt/Nonexempt: Exempt *Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Base pay range: $85,000—$105,000 USD

fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email careers@fairlife.com.

For Recruitment Agencies

At fairlife, we manage the majority of our hiring internally through our dedicated Talent Acquisition team, which is actively engaged in direct candidate sourcing. Most of our roles are filled through applications submitted via our careers site or through direct outreach by our team.

As our recruitment is primarily handled in-house, we work only occasionally with external agencies, and only those on our existing, pre-approved vendor list. At this time, we are not reviewing or expanding that list.

Unsolicited resumes or submissions from external agencies not authorized by our Talent Acquisition team will be considered direct candidate applications. As such, fairlife will not assume responsibility for any placement fees associated with these submissions.

## About fairlife

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: fairlife produces ultra-filtered, lactose-free dairy products including milk and protein shakes, using a patented cold-filtration process to deliver higher protein and calcium with less sugar.
- **Entity Type**: Private – wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company (acquired full ownership in 2020)
- **Headquarters**: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- **Founded**: 2012
- **Founders**: Mike McCloskey and Sue McCloskey

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Food & Beverage – dairy and functional nutrition
- **Target customers**: B2C – health-conscious consumers, athletes, families seeking high-protein/lactose-free options; also sold through retail (grocery, convenience) and direct-to-consumer via e‑commerce
- **Mission / Purpose**: “Nourish the world with great tasting, nutrition-rich products” while caring for people, animals and the planet [fairlife.com/culture](https://fairlife.com/culture/)

## Products & Services
- **fairlife Ultra-Filtered Milk**: Lactose-free, shelf-stable milk available in whole, 2% and fat-free varieties with 50% more protein and 50% less sugar than regular milk. (Consumer packaged good)
- **Core Power / Core Power Elite**: High-protein (26g–42g) recovery shakes aimed at athletes and active individuals. (Consumer packaged good)
- **fairlife Nutrition Plan**: High-protein, low-sugar shakes designed for weight management or meal replacement. (Consumer packaged good)
- **YUP!**: Chocolate milk and other flavored dairy beverages (primarily for kids). (Consumer packaged good)
- **DHA Omega-3 Ultra-Filtered Milk**: Milk fortified with DHA omega-3 fatty acids. (Consumer packaged good)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Revenue**: Not publicly disclosed as a standalone entity; fairlife is reported to have surpassed **$1 billion in annual retail sales** (industry estimates) but exact figures are not confirmed by the company.
- **Key Metric**: As a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, fairlife’s financials are consolidated; the brand is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S. dairy category.
- **Notable Investors / Owner**: The Coca-Cola Company (sole owner since 2020)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Expanding manufacturing footprint with facilities in **Coopersville, MI; Goodyear, AZ; Webster, NY** and a headquarters in **Chicago, IL**.
  - Active hiring across engineering, supply chain, quality, and operations (52+ open positions as of July 2026) [greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairlife)
  - Continuous product line extensions (protein shakes, DHA milk) and increased shelf placement in national retailers.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Patented Ultrafiltration Technology**: Produces milk with higher protein, calcium, and creaminess while removing lactose – a process that extends shelf life up to 50 days (unopened, refrigerated).
- **Brand Trust & Distribution**: Backed by The Coca-Cola Company’s global distribution network and marketing muscle.
- **Differentiation**: Stands out in the dairy aisle by offering “better-for-you” attributes (lactose-free, lower sugar, higher protein) without sacrificing taste.
- **Sustainability Focus**: Commitment to animal welfare and environmental stewardship (e.g., partnerships with dairy farmers, goal of net-zero emissions by 2050).

## Strategic Focus
- **Capacity Expansion**: Investing in new production plants (e.g., Goodyear, AZ facility) to meet growing demand and reduce supply chain risk.
- **Product Innovation**: Developing new functional dairy beverages (e.g., high-protein coffee, plant-based blends) and expanding the Core Power line.
- **Digital & Direct-to-Consumer**: Growing e‑commerce presence and subscription models for protein shakes.
- **Sustainability**: Reducing carbon footprint across the value chain, including regenerative agriculture practices and packaging improvements.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: fairlife describes a “uniquely entrepreneurial spirit” within a larger corporate structure, emphasizing collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to making a positive impact [fairlife.com/culture](https://fairlife.com/culture/).
- **Benefits & Wellbeing**: “Nourish” program offers resources for physical, mental, and financial health; benefits include competitive compensation, health coverage, 401(k) match, and paid time off.
- **Work Environment**: Hybrid model likely for corporate roles (Chicago HQ); manufacturing roles are on-site at various plant locations. The careers page highlights engineering, R&D, supply chain, safety, and operations teams.
- **Growth Opportunities**: Rapidly growing company with a flat-ish structure; employees can move between functions (e.g., from quality to engineering). Many roles open in automation, project management, and data analytics.
- **Notable Perks**: Free product samples, employee discounts, and a strong focus on internal promotions (most hiring done directly by the Talent Acquisition team).

## Sources
1. [fairlife.com – Homepage](https://fairlife.com)  
2. [fairlife.com – Culture & Mission](https://fairlife.com/culture/)  
3. [fairlife.com – Careers Overview](https://fairlife.com/careers/)  
4. [fairlife.com – Career Opportunities (Job Listings)](https://fairlife.com/career-opportunities/)  
5. [Greenhouse Job Board – fairlife Open Positions](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairlife)

## Other roles at fairlife

- [Project Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/project-engineering-intern-summer-2027-fairlife-goodyear-arizona-8cy727mhnmrm) — Goodyear Arizona, United States
- [Engineering Utilities Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-utilities-intern-summer-2027-fairlife-goodyear-arizona-5hp9zn2xm33f) — Goodyear Arizona, United States
- [Continuous Improvement Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/continuous-improvement-intern-summer-2027-fairlife-coopersville-michigan-nxbpvspg64y1) — Coopersville Michigan, United States
- [Project Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/project-engineering-intern-summer-2027-fairlife-coopersville-michigan-6k9f65sje12y) — Coopersville Michigan, United States
- [Maintenance Technician - Utilities (12 Hour Nights – Rotating Weekends)](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-technician-utilities-12-hour-nights-rotating-weekends-fairlife-sk51e233c9cd) — Goodyear Arizona, United States
- [Milk Receiver](https://feeny.ai/job/milk-receiver-fairlife-dexter-new-mexico-pktnn260e1wr) — Dexter New Mexico, United States
- [Sr. Director, Capital Governance & Internal Controls](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-director-capital-governance-internal-controls-fairlife-chicago-illinois-29z57j53bp47) — Chicago Illinois, United States
- [Training Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/training-specialist-fairlife-webster-new-york-d4pbzjt5wyx5) — Webster New York, United States
- [Training Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/training-manager-fairlife-webster-new-york-6x9fy6qn2kd9) — Webster New York, United States
- [Senior Utilities and Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-utilities-and-mechanical-engineer-fairlife-coopersville-michigan-n0v1sc0c7f40) — Coopersville Michigan, United States / Goodyear Arizona, United States / Webster New York, United States