TN Visa Process Development Engineer Jobs
Process Development Engineer roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA's Engineer category, covering process optimization, scale-up, and manufacturing development work. Canadian citizens can apply at the port of entry with same-day decisions. Mexican citizens need a consular appointment. A bachelor's degree in engineering is required.
Find TN Visa Process Development Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 4 of 5+ Process Development Engineer jobs
See all Process Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Process Development Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Build the Future of Rice with Riviana Foods! You may not know Riviana Foods by name, but chances are you know and love many of the brands we produce. For more than 100 years, our products have been part of family meals across America and around the world. As the largest processor, marketer, and distributor of branded and private-label rice products in the U.S., Riviana brings together trusted brands, innovative food technologies, and a global perspective to create products consumers enjoy every day.
Why Join Riviana?
- Make an Impact: Help develop products that reach consumers across the U.S. and around the world.
- Innovate: Work with multiple food technologies, including Ready-to-Serve, IQF, Instant, and Long Cook rice products.
- Collaborate: Partner with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Marketing, and other teams to bring ideas from concept to commercial production.
- Grow Your Expertise: Gain hands-on experience in product development, thermal processing, scale-up, pilot testing, and commercialization.
- Be Part of Something Bigger: Join a company backed by Ebro Foods, S.A., the global leader in the rice sector.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Based in Memphis, TN, the R&D Process Engineer plays a key role in transforming new product concepts into successful commercial products. This hands-on position supports the full product development process—from formulation and prototype development through pilot testing, industrial validation, process scale-up, and commercialization. The R&D Process Engineer is responsible for supporting research and development activities, including the design, formulation, and development of new products, as well as prototype development in an experimental kitchen. This role conducts pilot testing and industrial validations, interprets results, and recommends product and process improvements. The position is also responsible for developing product and ingredient specifications across the rice platform, including Long Cook, Ready-to-Serve (RTS), IQF, and Instant technologies. The R&D Process Engineer supports process scale-up by transferring, testing, and optimizing processes from pilot lines to commercial production and collaborates closely with Product Development, Operations, Engineering, and Marketing to successfully bring new products to market. This position reports to and works under the direction of the R&D Director.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ENGINEER - MEMPHIS, TN
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Product Development & Innovation
-
Support product development activities, formulation processes, and prototype development.
- Recommend technical approaches, methods, and solutions using sound technical judgment.
- Develop product, ingredient, and process specifications.
-
Prepare project documentation and executive summaries.
-
Process Development & Scale-Up
-
Manage and operate laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
- Develop operating protocols and testing requirements.
- Coordinate industrial trials with Operations to ensure quality, safety, and productivity.
-
Support technical transfer from R&D to Production and Quality.
-
Thermal Processing & Validation
-
Conduct heat penetration and distribution studies.
- Maintain records and documentation for thermal processing equipment, including probes, readers, and software.
-
Support validation and troubleshooting of thermal processes.
-
Technical Support & Collaboration
-
Prepare technical reports documenting trials and testing.
- Provide hands-on training and technical support to Production, Quality, and other technical staff.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and colleagues across multiple locations.
- Protect confidential information and company intellectual property.
- Promote and maintain safe working practices.
WHAT YOU BRING
-
Required:
-
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in R&D, process engineering, food manufacturing, or a related field.
- Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
-
Ability to work effectively across R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and other functions.
-
Technical Experience:
-
Thermal processing and retort systems.
- Ready-to-Serve (RTS) products.
- Instant rice processing.
- Raw materials and ingredient functionality.
- Food product development and regulatory requirements.
- Pilot plant testing, industrial trials, and process scale-up.
Riviana Foods Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all Federal, State and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, military/veteran status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, citizenship where legally permitted to work, or any other protected category under federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V
INTRODUCTION
Build the Future of Rice with Riviana Foods! You may not know Riviana Foods by name, but chances are you know and love many of the brands we produce. For more than 100 years, our products have been part of family meals across America and around the world. As the largest processor, marketer, and distributor of branded and private-label rice products in the U.S., Riviana brings together trusted brands, innovative food technologies, and a global perspective to create products consumers enjoy every day.
Why Join Riviana?
- Make an Impact: Help develop products that reach consumers across the U.S. and around the world.
- Innovate: Work with multiple food technologies, including Ready-to-Serve, IQF, Instant, and Long Cook rice products.
- Collaborate: Partner with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Marketing, and other teams to bring ideas from concept to commercial production.
- Grow Your Expertise: Gain hands-on experience in product development, thermal processing, scale-up, pilot testing, and commercialization.
- Be Part of Something Bigger: Join a company backed by Ebro Foods, S.A., the global leader in the rice sector.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Based in Memphis, TN, the R&D Process Engineer plays a key role in transforming new product concepts into successful commercial products. This hands-on position supports the full product development process—from formulation and prototype development through pilot testing, industrial validation, process scale-up, and commercialization. The R&D Process Engineer is responsible for supporting research and development activities, including the design, formulation, and development of new products, as well as prototype development in an experimental kitchen. This role conducts pilot testing and industrial validations, interprets results, and recommends product and process improvements. The position is also responsible for developing product and ingredient specifications across the rice platform, including Long Cook, Ready-to-Serve (RTS), IQF, and Instant technologies. The R&D Process Engineer supports process scale-up by transferring, testing, and optimizing processes from pilot lines to commercial production and collaborates closely with Product Development, Operations, Engineering, and Marketing to successfully bring new products to market. This position reports to and works under the direction of the R&D Director.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ENGINEER - MEMPHIS, TN
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Product Development & Innovation
-
Support product development activities, formulation processes, and prototype development.
- Recommend technical approaches, methods, and solutions using sound technical judgment.
- Develop product, ingredient, and process specifications.
-
Prepare project documentation and executive summaries.
-
Process Development & Scale-Up
-
Manage and operate laboratory and pilot plant equipment.
- Develop operating protocols and testing requirements.
- Coordinate industrial trials with Operations to ensure quality, safety, and productivity.
-
Support technical transfer from R&D to Production and Quality.
-
Thermal Processing & Validation
-
Conduct heat penetration and distribution studies.
- Maintain records and documentation for thermal processing equipment, including probes, readers, and software.
-
Support validation and troubleshooting of thermal processes.
-
Technical Support & Collaboration
-
Prepare technical reports documenting trials and testing.
- Provide hands-on training and technical support to Production, Quality, and other technical staff.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and colleagues across multiple locations.
- Protect confidential information and company intellectual property.
- Promote and maintain safe working practices.
WHAT YOU BRING
-
Required:
-
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in R&D, process engineering, food manufacturing, or a related field.
- Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
-
Ability to work effectively across R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and other functions.
-
Technical Experience:
-
Thermal processing and retort systems.
- Ready-to-Serve (RTS) products.
- Instant rice processing.
- Raw materials and ingredient functionality.
- Food product development and regulatory requirements.
- Pilot plant testing, industrial trials, and process scale-up.
Riviana Foods Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all Federal, State and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, military/veteran status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status, sexual orientation/gender identity, citizenship where legally permitted to work, or any other protected category under federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V
See all TN Visa Process Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new TN Visa Process Development Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as a Process Development Engineer
Verify your engineering degree qualifies
TN visa status requires a degree in engineering, not just a related field. A chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering degree maps cleanly to process development work. A materials science or chemistry degree may need a written nexus explanation in your offer letter.
Target manufacturers with active process teams
Pharmaceutical, semiconductor, food processing, and chemical manufacturing companies run dedicated process development functions. Search by NAICS industry code rather than job title to find companies that hire for this role at scale.
Get your offer letter to cite engineering duties explicitly
CBP officers classify TN petitions by job duties, not job titles. Ask your employer to describe process optimization, scale-up protocols, and design of experiments in the letter. Vague language like 'supports production' can trigger a denial.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers fast
Filtering job postings by TN visa sponsorship history saves weeks of outreach to employers who won't sponsor. Migrate Mate shows which companies have actively sponsored TN engineers, so you can target your applications where approval is already established.
Prepare for port-of-entry filing as a Canadian
Canadian citizens don't need a consular appointment. Bring your degree transcripts, offer letter, and a copy of your TN category justification to the port. Officers can approve same-day, but a poorly organized packet often results in secondary inspection.
Coordinate your start date around Mexican consular timelines
Mexican citizens must schedule a visa appointment at a U.S. consulate. Wait times vary by location and season. Build at least six to eight weeks into your start date negotiation to avoid losing an offer because of appointment availability.
Process Development Engineer TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Process Development Engineer role qualify for TN visa status?
Yes, Process Development Engineer falls under the USMCA Engineer category, which covers roles requiring engineering theory and practice. Your job duties must involve engineering work such as process design, scale-up, or optimization. A bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline is required. Roles focused primarily on quality inspection or technician-level tasks without engineering analysis may not qualify.
How does TN visa sponsorship compare to H-1B for this role?
TN has no annual lottery and no cap for Canadian citizens, so you can start work as soon as your petition is approved at the port of entry. H-1B visa requires entering a random lottery with roughly a one-in-four selection rate. For a clearly qualifying role like Process Development Engineer, TN is faster, cheaper for employers, and has no numerical limit constraining your options.
Where can I find Process Development Engineer jobs that offer TN visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for TN visa job seekers and filters roles by sponsorship history, so you're not applying blindly to companies that won't sponsor international professionals. Most general job boards don't filter by visa type or track which employers have sponsored TN workers in the past, which makes targeting sponsoring employers inefficient.
Can my employer sponsor TN status if they've never done it before?
Yes. TN doesn't require prior USCIS approval or employer registration the way H-1B does. A first-time TN employer only needs to provide a valid offer letter describing qualifying engineering duties, your wage, and the duration of employment. The burden is low for employers, which is one reason TN sponsorship is easier to negotiate than H-1B sponsorship with smaller companies.
What happens to my TN status if my process development role changes significantly?
TN status is tied to the duties described in your original offer letter. If your role shifts from engineering design and process analysis into general management or non-engineering work, your current TN authorization may no longer cover the new duties. You'd need a new TN filing reflecting the updated role. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers whose process development positions have stable, engineering-focused scopes.