Utilities Engineer

Orbia • Henry, IL

2d • $80,500 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Utilities Engineer is responsible for the safe, reliable, environmentally compliant, and efficient operation of the Henry site's utility systems. Reporting to the Production and Process Manager, the Utilities Engineer provides technical leadership and operational oversight for water treatment, steam generation, wastewater treatment, compressed air, nitrogen, cooling water, and other utility systems that support manufacturing.

The role monitors utility performance, reliability, efficiency, and environmental compliance; develops operating strategies to ensure uninterrupted supply to manufacturing; analyzes operating data and costs; and leads troubleshooting. It also supports environmental permits, reporting, audits, inspections, permit renewals, and investigations of environmental excursions and utility-related incidents.

The engineer works with maintenance teams on reliability, preventive and predictive maintenance, work orders, inspections, turnarounds, and major maintenance. The position manages utility-related improvement and capital projects, develops procedures and training, provides technical direction to operators and technicians, coordinates contractors, oversees raw material purchasing, manages budgets, and provides after-hours technical support as required. The position must maintain an Illinois Class K License to supervise industrial pretreatment and treatment operations.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of industrial experience in utilities, water treatment, wastewater treatment, chemical manufacturing, or related operations.
• Experience with industrial boiler systems, water treatment processes, and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Experience leading operational improvement initiatives and projects.
• Working knowledge of steam generation and distribution systems.
• Working knowledge of water treatment technologies, including reverse osmosis, demineralization, and filtration.
• Working knowledge of compressed air and nitrogen distribution systems.
• Working knowledge of biological, physical, and chemical wastewater treatment processes.
• Working knowledge of cooling water systems.
• Working knowledge of industrial controls, instrumentation, and DCS systems.
• Working knowledge of environmental regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge of reliability and maintenance best practices.
• Working knowledge of process safety management principles.
• Ability to maintain an Illinois Class K License to supervise industrial pretreatment and treatment operations.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Project management experience related to equipment and process improvements.
• Detailed understanding of energy efficiency KPIs and how to implement and monitor system performance.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards and management systems.
• Ability to lead FMEA, RCA, Ishikawa, or similar analyses of system and equipment failures and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting water, steam, and utility operating data to identify improvement opportunities and support operational decisions.
• Ability to perform detailed critical-equipment analyses to support development and improvement of preventive maintenance plans.
• Ability to identify and promote implementation of new technologies for system improvement.
• Experience with capital project management and execution.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment permit requirements and environmental reporting.
• Experience with DCS, process automation, and data analytics tools.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing energy conservation and sustainability initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain a strong culture of safety and environmental compliance throughout utility operations.
• Ensure utility activities comply with company safety policies, Life Saving Rules, permit-to-work requirements, and environmental standards.
• Provide technical and operational leadership for utility systems, including boilers and steam generation; well, filtered, reverse osmosis, and demineralized water; wastewater treatment and discharge; cooling and chilled water; compressed air and nitrogen distribution; and emergency utility and backup equipment.
• Monitor utility performance, reliability, efficiency, and environmental compliance.
• Develop operating strategies to ensure uninterrupted utility supply to critical manufacturing operations.
• Analyze operating data and trends to optimize system performance and utility costs.
• Lead troubleshooting for utility equipment and process upsets.
• Ensure wastewater treatment operations meet permit requirements and environmental regulations.
• Support compliance with NPDES permits, wastewater discharge requirements, air regulations, and other applicable environmental standards.
• Investigate environmental excursions and utility-related incidents and develop corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Maintain regulatory records, monitoring programs, and reporting systems, and support environmental audits, inspections, and permit renewals.
• Participate in Process Safety Management activities, hazard reviews, management of change, and incident investigations as applicable.
• Conduct routine field audits and safety observations.
• Identify utility equipment and system reliability improvement opportunities.
• Work with maintenance personnel to develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Generate and prioritize maintenance work orders to support environmental compliance, production demands, and facility repairs.
• Coordinate with operators, maintenance personnel, and contractors to plan and prepare equipment for maintenance.
• Support equipment inspections, turnaround planning, and major maintenance activities.
• Assist in developing equipment specifications and spare parts strategies.
• Lead projects focused on energy reduction, water conservation, steam efficiency, wastewater treatment optimization, environmental performance, and utility reliability.
• Provide technical justification and economic evaluations for capital expenditures.
• Manage utility-related capital and expense projects from concept through startup.
• Develop and update operating procedures, engineering standards, and training programs.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to utility operators and technicians.
• Support operator qualification and certification programs and participate in workforce development and cross-training.
• Coordinate contractors and outside service providers supporting utility operations.
• Maintain an Illinois Class K License to supervise industrial pretreatment and treatment operations.
• Oversee raw material purchasing to ensure adequate stocks.
• Provide after-hours technical support and respond to on-call situations as required.
• Develop and manage utility operating and expense budgets.
• Monitor utility consumption and cost metrics and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Support sustainability initiatives and corporate environmental goals.
• Serve as the site technical expert for utility systems and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Track and report key utility performance indicators.
• Perform other duties and special projects as requested by Leadership.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid company holidays
• Paid vacation time
• Paid sick time
• Parental leave
• Short- and long-term disability leave
• Employee assistance program
• Short- and long-term incentive compensation may be included in the compensation package.

What This Job Offers

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