Principal Engineer- Technical Services Utilities

Conagra Brands; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 109,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Bonus opportunity

401(k) matching

Job summary

Conagra Brands is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead and implement utility and energy strategies across complex infrastructure, partnering with Procurement, Supply Chain Engineering and Operations to cut costs while boosting equipment performance.

You will assess, modernize and justify steam, condensate, compressed air, boiler and wastewater systems, driving capital plans and reliable operation across facilities. Remote-friendly with travel.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical and project leadership experience in the design and operation of plant utility systems, including steam and condensate, compressed air, boilers, hot water systems, and wastewater treatment.

Responsibilities

• Develop programs that improve utility system capacity, capability, sustainability, and control while reducing total delivered cost.
• Provide technical feasibility assessments and recommendations to cross‑functional teams throughout the organization.
• Partner with platform engineering leadership to develop annual and multi‑year capital plans by recommending energy and utility system improvements that are proven in both concept and performance.
• Apply strategic thinking, technical expertise, and hands‑on execution across a portfolio of complex infrastructure projects.
• Navigate ambiguity while advancing new and emerging utility solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Lead Front End Loading packages and technical briefs for infrastructure and utility projects.
• Perform infrastructure technology assessments and recommend best‑in‑class solutions for steam and condensate systems, compressed air systems, air dryers, boilers, hot water systems, and wastewater treatment.
• Collaborate with engineering project managers to develop preliminary capital and expense estimates, schedules, and primary equipment and system performance criteria.
• Identify alternatives, prerequisites, risks, and opportunities associated with proposed utility and energy solutions.
• Review Front End Loading Phase 1 and technical brief packages developed by third‑party engineering partners to ensure accuracy, completeness, and operational effectiveness.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure proper implementation of utility technical solutions and applicable codes through project execution.
• Analyze system performance data and operational metrics to identify improvement opportunities and build business cases aligned with cost, performance, and strategic objectives.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Reporting to the Director Engineering, you will partner with Procurement, Supply Chain Engineering, and Operations to develop and implement utility and energy strategies that reduce costs while maximizing equipment performance across complex infrastructure systems. You will apply deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands‑on execution to evaluate, improve, and modernize utility systems, while navigating ambiguity and advancing proven and emerging solutions that align with business objectives.

A Taste of Your Responsibilities

• Develop programs that improve utility system capacity, capability, sustainability, and control while reducing total delivered cost.
• Provide technical feasibility assessments and recommendations to cross‑functional teams throughout the organization.
• Partner with platform engineering leadership to develop annual and multi‑year capital plans by recommending energy and utility system improvements that are proven in both concept and performance.
• Apply strategic thinking, technical expertise, and hands‑on execution across a portfolio of complex infrastructure projects.
• Navigate ambiguity while advancing new and emerging utility solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Lead Front End Loading packages and technical briefs for infrastructure and utility projects.
• Perform infrastructure technology assessments and recommend best‑in‑class solutions for steam and condensate systems, compressed air systems, air dryers, boilers, hot water systems, and wastewater treatment.
• Collaborate with engineering project managers to develop preliminary capital and expense estimates, schedules, and primary equipment and system performance criteria.
• Identify alternatives, prerequisites, risks, and opportunities associated with proposed utility and energy solutions.
• Review Front End Loading Phase 1 and technical brief packages developed by third‑party engineering partners to ensure accuracy, completeness, and operational effectiveness.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure proper implementation of utility technical solutions and applicable codes through project execution.
• Analyze system performance data and operational metrics to identify improvement opportunities and build business cases aligned with cost, performance, and strategic objectives.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7+ years of technical and project leadership experience in the design and operation of plant utility systems, including steam and condensate, compressed air, boilers, hot water systems, and wastewater treatment.
• Experience delivering thermal recovery initiatives or reducing energy usage across utility and process systems.
• Engineering design and operational experience supporting complex utility infrastructure.
• Strong influencing skills with a proven record of effective stakeholder engagement across technical and non‑technical teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 50 percent.

Position may be based remotely east of Denver, Colorado and within reasonable proximity to a major airport, with regular travel to manufacturing facilities #LI-Remote #LI-PM2 #LI-MSL

Compensation Pay Range:$109,000-$159,000

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position.

An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity.

Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Anticipated Close Date October 28, 2026

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food.

We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food.

As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career.

We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet.

Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food.

We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food.

As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career.

We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye ®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet.

Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.