Intelligent process management is provided. A start time is determined for an additional process to be run on a worker node within a duration of a sleep state of a task of a process already running on the worker node by adding a first defined buffer time to a determined start time of the sleep state of the task. A backfill time is determined for the additional process by subtracting a second defined buffer time from a determined end time of the sleep state of the task. A scheduling plan is generated for the additional process based on the start time and the backfill time corresponding to the additional process. The scheduling plan is executed to run the additional process on the worker node according to the start time and the backfill time corresponding to the additional process.