Food Processing Engineer

Location: Initially based in Calgary, AB, transitioning to Strathmore, AB upon facility start-up.

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Phytokana Ingredients Inc.

Phytokana is an independent Alberta-based innovator, processor, developer, and distributor of conventional and organic plant-based protein and co-products for the food and beverage industry. We are building a plant protein innovation hub in Strathmore, Alberta – our processing facility will sustainably source novel pulse crops to produce high-purity protein concentrates and co-products from our low emissions fractionation facility.

Role Overview

The Food Process Engineer will optimize facility operations, provide technical expertise on equipment and processes, supervise the plant data science engineer, and develop systems to position our plant as a world-class, automated fractionation facility. This role includes significant contributions to HACCP and GMP program development, strategic business planning, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Working as a key leader in the operations team, you will gain exposure to every area of the business and be able to contribute in multiple aspects of the operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Optimization & Best Practices: Initiate and implement best practices for product safety, quality, process optimization, and manufacturing capacity.
• Food Safety Programs: Support the design and development of the HACCP and GMP programs, including sanitation, sampling, microbiological safety, hygiene, and product specifications.
• Process Development: Build and refine processes to support optimal production, safety, and performance.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for improvement and optimization in operations.
• Technical Leadership: Provide engineering expertise in construction, design, commissioning, and overall facility operations.
• Strategic Planning: Participate in strategic business planning activities to align with corporate goals. Develop a production schedule to meet customer orders and generate forecasts for future production.
• Pilot Production Leadership: Lead early pilot-scale production efforts, leveraging insights to guide process design, operational strategies, and full-scale manufacturing readiness. Collaborate with the production team to troubleshoot challenges and implement solutions during pilot runs.
• Collaboration: Develop partnerships with subject matter experts, vendors, and equipment manufactures to enhance facility performance.
• Performance Metrics: Develop and track KPIs for productivity, capacity utilization, food safety, and more.
• Data Science Supervision: Oversee the plant Data Science Engineer in managing data, integrating systems, and driving machine learning/AI initiatives.
• Health & Safety: Maintain and support outstanding health and safety performance standards.

Your attributes & competencies

• You are a critical thinker, creative marketer and have an entrepreneurial spirit
• A highly self-aware professional, you combine high levels of intelligence and empathy with a strong work ethic, honesty and integrity
• Strong interpersonal skills to lead, inspire and challenge teams
• You thrive in an environment of continuous innovation and improvement.
• Broad network within the North American food ingredient and packaging space
• Dynamic, motivating, and entrepreneurial-minded with an internal drive to continuously hit goals and deadlines; proactive mentality with intellectual curiosity and desire to learn
• Desire to find new ways to address the changing demands of food consumers globally

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or Applied Science (Chemical, Industrial, Mechanical, or Food Engineering preferred).
• Licensed Professional Engineer (preferably with APEGA or an equivalent provincial association).
• 5–10+ years of process engineering experience, ideally in a lean manufacturing or food production environment.
• Proven experience with HACCP and GMP programs.
• Expertise in developing and implementing continuous improvement processes in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of food facility standards and regulatory requirements.
• Exceptional analytical and decision-making skills grounded in data and evidence.

Work Environment

• Construction Phase: Split between Calgary (downtown office) and Strathmore, Alberta.
• Post-Start-Up: Full-time role based at the Strathmore facility.

Why Join Phytokana?

• Be part of a pioneering team leading Alberta’s plant protein industry.
• Work in a state-of-the-art facility designed for automation, sustainability and innovation.
• Engage in meaningful work with opportunities for professional growth and impact.

What we offer

We provide a total reward program including competitive base salary, annual bonus incentive, group health benefits and the opportunity to participate in long-term incentive programs.

Application deadline

Applicants are encouraged to submit their credentials by July 24th to Sign in to view email.