---
title: 'Senior Dairy Processing Engineer at fairlife'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-dairy-processing-engineer-fairlife-chicago-illinois-2qp99dsyjagz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Senior Dairy Processing Engineer at fairlife

- **Company:** fairlife
- **Location:** Chicago Illinois, United States
- **Compensation:** $135k–$165k
- **Posted:** 2026-05-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fairlife/jobs/5149514007

## 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 Sr. Dairy Processing Engineer will come in with deep technical expertise in fluid milk membrane separations (especially ultrafiltration), thermal processing (HTST/HHST/UHT), and end-to-end milk unit operations—from raw milk receiving through packaging. This role is a hands-on technical authority who will be integral to process technology innovation as well as troubleshooting manufacturing issues, optimizing process capabilities and product quality, supporting pilot-to-plant scale-up, and serving as a trusted partner to Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality.

responsibilities:

Manufacturing technical leadership, Operational Support and Troubleshooting

- Serve as a go-to technical expert for fluid milk separation, standardization, homogenization, pasteurization systems (HTST/HHST/UHT), and packaging performance.
- Diagnose and resolve process and product issues.
- Partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality to drive safe, compliant, and reliable production and troubleshoot process deviations, and identify root causes for quality issues.

Process design, scale-up, and optimization

- Define critical process parameters, key performance indicators, and control plans.
- Design, coordinate, and execute pilot and commercial-scale plant trials.
- Own process capability improvements and provide technical input to capital projects and equipment selection.
- Provide subject-matter expertise on OEM platforms and engineering approaches.

Technical Advocacy

- Proactively identify opportunities for process optimization that improve efficiency, sustainability, yield or product shelf-life.
- Lead initiatives and manage stakeholders across Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.

Milk chemistry, physical chemistry, and product quality

- Apply deep knowledge of milk composition and how processing impacts chemistry, physical properties, and functional performance of milk and its components.
- Partner with Product Development and Operations on formulation/processing choices for fluid dairy products, including shakes and other forms (sensory, taste, texture, stability, shelf-life).

Analytics & data-driven decision making

- Define plans and execute and interpret analytical testing results tied to processing and shelf-life: milk composition chemistry, rheology, chromatographic/volatile profiling and other relevant analytical methods.
- Establish and improve SOPs, troubleshooting playbooks, and process data reviews

People leadership

- Individual contributor to start. Will build and develop a team of 1–4 (e.g., process engineers, dairy scientists, technicians).
- Build strong cross-functional relationships and communicate clearly from plant floor to leadership level.

skills/qualifications required:

- MS in Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a focus on dairy processing and/or thermal processing.
- 5-10 years of progressive experience in fluid dairy processing spanning pilot through commercial manufacturing.
- Demonstrated expertise in:
- HTST/HHST and/or UHT processing of fluid milk (and/or cream) and practical plant troubleshooting.
- End-to-end milk unit operations: raw receiving → clarification/separation → standardization → homogenization → pasteurization/aseptic processing → packaging.
- Ultrafiltration of milk and/or dairy membrane separations (MF/UF/NF/RO familiarity as a plus).
- Strong technical competence in dairy physical chemistry and processing impacts on proteins/fats/enzymes.
- Proven ability to partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality in a high-accountability environment.
- Experience with aseptic systems and packaging interactions (commercial aseptic operations strongly preferred).
- Track record of leading cross-functional root-cause investigations (e.g., flavor defects, oxidation, shelf-life failures, stability issues).
- Experience in capital projects preferred.
- Familiarity with regulatory expectations and operator training frameworks for pasteurization systems 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.

position location: Chicago, IL

reports to: Sr. Director, R&D

travel requirements: 40-50% travel to our plants

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: $135,000—$165,000 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)

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