Full-Time
Senior Engineering Project Manager
Posted on 9/4/2025
Fairlife
201-500 employees
Lactose-free dairy and protein drinks
Compensation Overview
$130k - $150k/yr
Allendale Charter Twp, MI, USA + 1 more
More locations: Webster, NY, USA
In Person
Travel up to 25% across Webster, NY and Coopersville, MI facilities.
 Business & Strategy (1) |
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- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical Engineering preferred)
- 4+ years of experience in industrial manufacturing; dairy, food and beverage, or liquid processing preferred
- Strong understanding of aseptic and sanitary design standards
- Proficient in reading and interpreting P&IDs
- Familiarity with utility systems (steam, boiler, glycol chillers, tower water, RO systems, electrical)
- Experience supporting capital and commercial projects in a technical capacity
- Knowledge of FDA and PMO regulations related to processing equipment and facilities
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across cross-functional teams
- Proficient in SharePoint, MS Office Suite, and AutoCAD
- Self-starter with a proactive mindset and attention to detail
- Assist in scope development, including technical feasibility assessments and identification of potential gaps
- Provide engineering input for budget, schedule, and risk analysis
- Support equipment delivery coordination, installation, commissioning, and startup activities
- Participate in factory acceptance testing, punch list development, and project closeout
- Ensure processing equipment meets fairlife’s technical specifications and sanitary design standards
- Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including P&IDs, equipment specifications, and turnover packages
- Contribute to the creation of standardized technical databases for future project reference
- Work closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to support project transitions and commercialization efforts
- Coordinate with EHS and Quality teams to ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations
- Support integration of PLCs, HMIs, and automated systems related to processing equipment
- Implement plant fit-out elements such as signage, workstations, lab equipment, and safety barriers
- Provide regular technical updates to project stakeholders and maintain project tracking tools
- Collaborate with internal and external teams to ensure successful project execution and operational readiness
- Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles is a plus
Fairlife, a Coca-Cola subsidiary based in Chicago, makes lactose-free, real dairy beverages. Its products include fairlife ultra-filtered milk, Core Power High Protein Shakes, and fairlife nutrition plan shakes. A proprietary filtration process concentrates protein and reduces lactose to create protein-forward, lower-lactose drinks, distributed at scale. Its goal is to nourish consumers while caring for people, animals, and the planet, with commitments to animal welfare and responsible packaging.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2012
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sales grew 28% YoY to $782M, outpacing milk category's 2%.
- Coca-Cola invests $650M in Michigan, lines operational 2028.
- Plans boost capacity 30% across facilities in 3-5 years.
What critics are saying
- Lawsuit claims false eco and welfare marketing erodes trust.
- Animal abuse accusations at farms trigger boycotts now.
- Chobani captures 15-20% premium dairy share in 12 months.
What makes Fairlife unique
- Fairlife offers ultra-filtered lactose-free milk with higher protein and less sugar.
- Core Power shakes target post-workout recovery in sports nutrition.
- Nutrition Plan shakes support health journeys with real dairy.
- Named Most Trusted High Protein Milk in U.S. 2026 rankings.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Hybrid Work Options
Company News
Coca-Cola spends $650M to expand Fairlife production. The beverage giant is adding to a Michigan manufacturing plant as the dairy brand sees "significant growth." Published March 25, 2026 Dive brief: * Coca-Cola is investing up to $650 million to update and expand production at its Fairlife facility in Michigan, according to a Tuesday news release. * The investment at its Cooperstown manufacturing plant will add 245,000 square feet of production space and create 150 additional jobs, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said in a statement. * Fairlife, which produces ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk, protein and nutrition shakes, has been located at the Cooperstown facility since 2012. It employs more than 400 people. Facility updates will help production keep up with consumer demand as the brand sees "significant growth," the press release said. Dive insight: Since it was acquired in 2020, Fairlife has been a point of growth for Coca-Cola, surpassing the $1 billion sales threshold four years ago. The brand, which touts higher protein and less sugar than traditional milk, has benefited from more consumers seeking out healthier options. At Citi's Global Consumer and Retail Conference earlier this month, Coca-Cola President and CFO John Murphy said the beverage giant plans to invest in other Fairlife facilities during the next three to five years to increase production capacity by 30%. The investment in Michigan adds two additional production lines that are expected to be operational in 2028, according to a Coca-Cola press release. Construction will begin later this year. The Michigan expansion is in addition to a separate $650 million Fairlife facility in upstate New York, which is scheduled to open this year. Murphy cited Fairlife as an example of how Coca-Cola uses innovation to get closer to a broad consumer set. The brand also has a nutrition portfolio in addition to its protein shakes and milk. "You cannot... sit on the laurels of what you've accomplished to date, but it's a pretty darn good place to start from," Murphy said of Fairlife. "And as we go forward, I would see the innovation opportunity in this category to be quite strong."
Fairlife, acquired in full by Coca-Cola in 2020, depicts itself as an eco-conscious milk brand dedicated to working with local farms, conserving water, supporting renewable energy, and investing in animal welfare.
Upscale milk brand Fairlife accused of animal abuse, environmental wrongs.
Farmer-owned Cayuga Milk Ingredients announced plans in 2022 to expand into extended-shelf-life processing at its plant near Auburn, New York.
Fairlife breaks ground on $650 million facility in New York.