Title:  Process Engineer - Spray Drying

Spray Drying Process Engineer

Location: Skelmersdale
Contract: Permanent | Full time

About the role

We’re recruiting a Spray Drying Process Engineer to join our Skelmersdale site, this is a newly created role due to business demanad and growth, playing a critical role in the technical ownership, optimisation and long‑term performance of our spray drying and evaporation processes.

This is a hands‑on, site‑based engineering role with real accountability, focused on process stability, asset care, performance improvement and technical problem‑solving within a complex food manufacturing environment.

You’ll act as the technical escalation point for spray dryers and evaporators, working closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality and CI teams to reduce losses, improve efficiency, and drive continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Technical ownership of spray dryers, evaporators and associated powder handling systems
• Develop and embed preventative maintenance strategies and asset care standards
• Create, standardise and maintain SOPs, critical process parameters and set points
• Lead dryer top loss reviews and performance improvement activities
• Use data analysis, root‑cause analysis and process modelling to drive OEE, yield and energy improvements
• Act as technical escalation lead for drying‑related operational issues
• Support investigations into quality deviations, contamination events and equipment failures
• Build and maintain a full technical drawing and P&ID library for drying systems
• Identify and deliver opportunities for automation, digitalisation and advanced process control
• Develop and manage critical spares strategies for drying assets
• Lead or support capital projects including scope development, business cases and commissioning
• Work with OEMs, suppliers and contractors to optimise equipment performance

 What we’re looking for:

• Degree‑qualified in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or similar (or equivalent experience)
• Strong experience working with spray drying and evaporation processes (food, dairy, powders or similar)
• Proven background in process optimisation, performance improvement and problem‑solving
• Working knowledge of OEE, CI tools (DMAIC, 5 Whys, A3, Fishbone)
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills across Engineering, Operations and Quality
• Confident working as a technical authority and challenging where required
• Experience in food manufacturing or a regulated environment is highly desirable

What we offer:

• A technically impactful role with genuine ownership and visibility
• Opportunity to work on complex, high‑value spray drying assets
• Investment in engineering capability, capital projects and automation
• A collaborative site culture with strong CI and engineering focus
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Clear development and progression opportunities within Müller Engineering
• 4 x life assurance
• 10% annual bonus – based on company targets

Why Müller?

Müller UK & Ireland is one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers, operating across multiple dairies and processing sites. We invest heavily in engineering capability, innovation and continuous improvement, giving our engineers the opportunity to make a real difference at site and group level.

You can find out more about Müller and what it’s like to work for us by clicking here   Careers at Müller UK & Ireland