Staff Engineer - SME Utilities
About The Position
The Staff Engineer – Utilities Systems serves as the enterprise technical authority for utility systems across the manufacturing network, including refrigeration, steam and boiler systems, thermal fluid systems, compressed air, water systems, and energy infrastructure. This role provides deep subject matter expertise in the design, operation, optimization, troubleshooting, and strategic application of utilities critical to food and dairy processing operations. Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for utilities systems, including refrigeration (ammonia/CO₂), boilers/steam systems, cooling towers, chilled water, compressed air, and plant water systems. Provide technical leadership for system design, integration, and optimization across utilities infrastructure. Lead technical reviews of major capital projects involving utilities systems. Serve as the final technical authority for utilities-related engineering decisions. Support strategic decisions regarding utilities system selection, capacity planning, redundancy, and resilience. Make high-quality technical decisions in ambiguous or high-risk situations. Participate in concept development, feasibility studies, and engineering design reviews. Support Operational Excellence initiatives by addressing complex reliability, capacity, and performance issues. Build and maintain enterprise utilities system design and operating standards. Establish best practices for safe operation of utilities systems including ammonia refrigeration safety and boiler integrity. Provide technical guidance on energy management and sustainability considerations including heat recovery and efficiency. Support development of energy-aware design principles across capital projects. Monitor and evaluate emerging utilities technologies.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Chemical Engineering preferred)
- 10+ years of experience in utilities systems engineering or capital project execution
- Demonstrated expertise in one or more utilities systems with working knowledge across others
- Experience developing technical standards and specifications
- Strong understanding of industrial utilities in food or dairy environments
- Working knowledge of safety and regulatory requirements
- Strong understanding of energy systems and efficiency drivers
- Strong communication and influencing skills
- Experience facilitating technical reviews
- Experience supporting central utilities systems design
- Experience with refrigeration and/or boiler systems
- Experience implementing enterprise standards
- Experience with energy optimization programs
- Experience working with OEMs and engineering firms
- Familiarity with digital tools for utilities optimization
Nice To Haves
- Adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for utilities systems, including refrigeration (ammonia/CO₂), boilers/steam systems, cooling towers, chilled water, compressed air, and plant water systems
- Provide technical leadership for system design, integration, and optimization across utilities infrastructure
- Lead technical reviews of major capital projects involving utilities systems
- Serve as the final technical authority for utilities-related engineering decisions
- Support strategic decisions regarding utilities system selection, capacity planning, redundancy, and resilience
- Make high-quality technical decisions in ambiguous or high-risk situations
- Participate in concept development, feasibility studies, and engineering design reviews
- Support Operational Excellence initiatives by addressing complex reliability, capacity, and performance issues
- Build and maintain enterprise utilities system design and operating standards
- Establish best practices for safe operation of utilities systems including ammonia refrigeration safety and boiler integrity
- Provide technical guidance on energy management and sustainability considerations including heat recovery and efficiency
- Support development of energy-aware design principles across capital projects
- Monitor and evaluate emerging utilities technologies
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) with 7% company contributions
- 3 weeks Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Advancement Opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
