Sr Manager Engineering- Refrigeration, HVAC, Plant Systems Design

The Kraft Heinz Company • Chicago, IL

28d • $120,800 - $151,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Refrigeration, HVAC, Plant System Design Engineer is a subject matter expert that will lead their discipline as part of the Design and Technical Capabilities team to define standards, consistent processes, and formulate projects that can be used and issued to suppliers for initial budget and final pricing and order placement. The design engineer is responsible for the design, operation, maintenance, and optimization of ammonia-based refrigeration systems used in industries such as food processing, cold storage, and manufacturing. This role requires a strong engineering background, deep technical knowledge of ammonia systems, and strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards. The specialized professional focus will be on ammonia/refrigeration but their responsible will includes oversight of design, engineering, safety and quality support in the following utility equipment systems: Clean steam, RO systems, HVAC systems, plant steam systems, process chillers, compressed/process air, nitrogen, ammonia chillers, refrigeration process, and cooling towers. This individual will work closely with a cross-functional team to meet the needs of the groups they support. This position supports the team on completing capital engineering feasibility studies, develop initial and detailed equipment designs, and creating engineering standards that complement the equipment design and can be utilized for project feasibility and execution phases of projects to improve speed of execution. This individual will require both the project management and technical knowledge to develop the scope for complex utilities projects. While this role will be focused on refrigeration/ammonia expertise, team members are expected to have general knowledge of infrastructure, utilities, wastewater treatment and food and beverages process technologies.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering or related field/experience is required.
• 5-8 years of manufacturing experience is required with the ability to articulate & implement new technologies and ammonia/refrigeration designs.
• In-depth understanding of ammonia refrigeration systems, HVACR design, and related facility mechanical systems (water, steam, pumps, blowers, gas, compressed air, sanitation, vacuum).
• Must possess basic knowledge of core principles in various engineering disciplines (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics etc.)
• Strong knowledge of utility systems (Clean and Plant Utility Systems)
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills preferred.
• Experience with writing scopes of work based on project requirements.
• Possess a deep understanding of Manufacturing KPIs.
• Able to lead a cross functional team.
• Able to influence senior leaders within the Manufacturing Leadership Team.
• Able to provide mentoring and coaching to seasoned technical Leaders / professionals.
• Act as the resident domain expert within their field.
• Demonstrable knowledge in their discipline in defining processes and establishing engineering standard for the use in engineering projects.
• External relationships with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and Engineering service organizations throughout the world.
• Experience of working with LEAN or similar structured continuous improvement methodologies.
• Able to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Refrigeration technology or ammonia refrigeration certifications (e.g., R-22, ammonia-specific) are preferred.
• RETA certification is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and guidelines such as ASME BPE, ISPE Baseline Guides, USP, EU GMP, ISO standards and CFR’s.

Responsibilities

• Develop initial scope of work, block flow diagrams, equipment selections, and technical reports for ammonia refrigeration systems, including compressors, condensers, evaporators, and associated components.
• Perform sizing and selection of refrigeration equipment, control group design, final line sizing, and mass/energy balance calculations.
• Maintain engineering standards, stay current with code changes (e.g., NEC, ASHRAE, OSHA, EPA), and ensure compliance with Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements.
• Ensure PSM program is compliant. Review PSM audits and provide solutions and alternative options.
• Create standard engineering project designs and Capex estimates for major capital initiatives working together with supply development, project leads and their teams.
• Provide engineering support to address operational / compliance issues and to ensure equipment is maintained at a level required to provide high reliability maximizing useful life
• Provide technical expertise and industry best practices
• Lead engineering efforts to resolve equipment and operational problems and ensure problem solving techniques are appropriately utilized
• Participate & lead cross functional reviews to define and agree standard process flows ensure all major Capital projects (>$1MM) within the Zone are designed to maintain business continuity, maximize operating income and factory efficiency, including the formulation of: standard designs, cost estimation and challenging timelines together with BU Engineering, ORM, R&D and FS&Q.
• Develop equipment standards and designs to enable Procurement to obtain standard pricing structures for particular/preferred suppliers.
• Establish benchmarking of common equipment or processes and Capital projects across the Zone to understand key advantages of each the various installed lines and standardize where these bring competitive advantage.
• Identify and evaluate Best Available Technologies and engineering practices for their discipline, sharing them across the zone, and globally where appropriate. With the aim of delivering projects in a more consistent and expedient manner.
• Provide technical support to project engineers as requested during equipment build, acceptance testing and commissioning.
• Participate in Post Project Implementation Reviews to understand areas for improvement and revision versus the established standards and approach.
• Research and refine technical solutions to reduce labor reliance across multiple product categories.
• Create preliminary budgetary estimates across multiple disciplines (refrigeration, HVAC, infrastructure, and utilities) to guide the business towards the best ROI capital investments.
• Develop project design, detailed scopes of work, cost estimates, timelines and bid documentation for capital projects that are identified as high potential for investment.
• Work with third party engineering firms to develop for-bid and for-construction drawings.
• Act as a resident expert within ammonia/refrigeration field of expertise, providing guidance to the broader team on the strategic fit within the Manufacturing Network.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities based on the business segment cost needs and the latest technical solutions.
• Present to senior leadership about project viability during ideation, future pipeline ideas, and project updates during the scope development stage.
• Participate in Zone Technical Peer Reviews (TPR) to ensure projects are properly designed while meeting safety, quality, sanitary requirements, and following KHC standards and specifications.
• Define and implement operating KPIs for utilities for the sites.
• Investigate and apply relevant best in class methods in the zone through collaborative efforts with suppliers, OEM’s and SME’s.
• Work with external stakeholders (OEM’s, Contractors, local utility) to ensure that they are aligned with the Kraft Heinz direction and deliver maximum value for our investments.
• Scout, evaluate, and qualify potential vendors (OEMs, Technical Services, etc) to support and enable the NAZ 10yp, specifically through environmental stewardship.
• Participate in industry groups to maintain a pulse on industry best practices. Develop and justify plans for implementation within the Zone.

Benefits

• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager