Principal Mechanical Engineer - Utilities

Ingredion Incorporated; Westchester (IL); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Ingredion Incorporated is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide global technical leadership for industrial utility and energy systems across Ingredion facilities. The role focuses on boilers, feedwater, HRSGs, steam and gas turbines, CHP, and related balance‑of‑plant equipment, with responsibilities from design to commissioning and performance verification.

You will mentor engineers, deploy global standards, develop Best Operating Practices, and lead asset management strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing; multi-site/global experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide global mechanical engineering leadership for utility systems and related design and operating activities.
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and reliability improvements for utility systems across sites.
• Evaluate capital projects for technology selection, scope, sizing, and maintainability.

Skills

Boilers knowledge

Steam turbines

Gas turbines

Cogeneration CHP

Pressure‑relieving valves

Safety valves

Utility distribution

Asset management

Root cause analysis

Mechanical integrity

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Process engineering standards

Job description

About Ingredion

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

Location: Westchester, IL

Workplace type: Hybrid

Principal Mechanical Engineer

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you provide global technical leadership and subject matter expertise for industrial utility and energy systems across Ingredion facilities and business segments to achieve manufacturing, safety, quality, reliability, sustainability, energy, and cost objectives. The role is the Mechanical Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) for utilities, with primary emphasis on boilers and feedwater systems, HRSGs, steam and gas turbines, combined-cycle cogeneration (CHP) and related balance-of-plant equipment, steam, fuel, and compressed-air distribution, and pressure-relief systems. The engineer supports utility master planning, system design, equipment selection and specification, troubleshooting, reliability improvement, project development and review, commissioning, startup, and post-implementation performance verification. Provides a high level of technical leadership through mentoring engineers, resolves complex technical issues, develops and deploys global engineering standards, Best Operating Practices, and asset-management strategies. This role reports to the Director of Global Process Engineering, Utilities.

What you will do:

Technical Competencies

Provide global mechanical engineering leadership and technical expertise for industrial utility systems, including system assessments, utility master planning, engineering studies, design specifications, piping specifications, equipment specifications, design reviews, troubleshooting, optimization, and lifecycle improvement.

• Demonstrate deep technical experience with boilers using natural gas, wood, LPG, biogas, coal, or other fuels; boiler feedwater systems; deaerators; HRSGs; steam distribution; pressure reduction; condensate recovery; boiler auxiliaries; pressure‑reducing valves; and safety valves.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of steam turbines, gas turbines, combined‑cycle cogeneration, and CHP systems, microturbines, gas compressors, generators, heat recovery, balance‑of‑plant equipment, operating modes, performance monitoring, and integration with plant utility demand.
• Apply expertise in utility distribution systems, including steam, compressed air, and fuels such as natural gas, LPG, biogas, and hydrogen, with emphasis on safe design, pressure control, integrity, reliability, and energy‑loss reduction.
• Develop utility mass and energy balances, demand profiles, capacity and redundancy assessments, equipment sizing, hydraulic analyses, and efficiency evaluations to improve reliability, resilience, energy intensity, emissions performance, and total cost of ownership.
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and reliability improvement for utility systems, including recurring failures, capacity limitations, unstable operation, energy losses, corrosion, vibration, water hammer, pressure‑control issues, and mechanical integrity concerns.
• Lead critical utility asset management for cogeneration and other high‑risk equipment, including asset database governance, mechanical repair‑shop qualification, new‑vendor qualification, lifecycle planning, and risk‑based maintenance strategies.
• Evaluate capital projects to ensure appropriate technology selection, complete utility scope and tie‑in requirements, correct design basis and equipment sizing, maintainability, constructability, commissioning readiness, budget adequacy, and alignment with business objectives.

Core Competencies

Applies engineering and financial analysis to prioritize utility reliability, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and lifecycle‑cost opportunities. Engages operations, maintenance, engineering, EHSSQ, procurement, and business stakeholders on complex utility issues and drives collaboration to deliver sustainable solutions.

• Identifies mechanical integrity, process safety, environmental, and operational gaps in utility systems and drives improvements to strengthen global EHSSQ compliance.
• Identifies and deploys best‑in‑class utility technologies, condition‑monitoring practices.
• Leads deviation treatment and root cause resolution for the most complex utility and mechanical problems across multiple sites, implementing sustainable solutions with local teams.
• Apply knowledge of IPS operational governance, process standardization, and deviation treatment to utility systems and critical equipment.
• Develops prioritized utility Best Operating Practices (BOPs), critical operating and maintenance routines, training, and adherence tracking.
• Documents and shares utility performance improvements, success cases, and lessons learned to improve key performance indicators and drive global standardization.

Behavioral Competencies

Use an elevated level of industry knowledge and expertise to deliver critical business objectives. Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to collaborate within multi‑disciplined groups to deliver results. Drives global collaboration to improve knowledge and services across the Ingredion network. Utilize finite resources across multiple regions to efficiently address technical requirements. Actively develops early‑career process engineers through Mentorship and Training.

What you will bring:

Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent. Extensive experience in Mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing required. Experience with multi‑site, regional, or global experience preferred.

Who you are:

Uses a high level of industry knowledge and expertise to deliver critical business objectives. Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to collaborate within multi‑disciplined groups to deliver results. Drives global collaboration to improve knowledge and services across the Ingredion network. Utilize finite resources across multiple regions to efficiently address technical requirements. Actively develops early‑career process engineers through Mentorship and Training.

Why Join Ingredion?

Discover why Ingredion is the ideal place to advance your career with our exceptional rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive. Create the future with us and enjoy:

• Total Rewards Package – Competitive salary and performance‑based pay recognizing your contributions to our success.
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support – Health, long‑term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well‑being
• Flexible Work Arrangements – We value flexibility to support you both professionally and personally.
• Career Growth – Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.
• Employee Recognition Program – A culture of real‑time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally
• Employee Discount Program – Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travel.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs. Ingredion uses AI‑enabled tools to support parts of the recruitment process, including resume screening and interview scheduling. These tools help match candidate skills to job requirements and streamline communication. All AI‑assisted decisions are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team to ensure fairness and compliance with applicable laws. By applying, you acknowledge that AI may be used to support your application journey.

Relocation Available: Yes

Pay Range: $123,500.00-$164,700.00 Annual

Benefits: Full‑time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with an competitive company match.

Ingredion is a leading global, plant‑based ingredients solutions company. We make sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterials that are used by customers in everyday products from foods and beverages to paper and pharmaceuticals. At Ingredion, we embrace possibilities and inspire each other to think big. Together, we are reimagining how we can make life better through our differentiated ingredients and innovative solutions. We share an inspiring purpose — to make life better, for our colleagues, our customers, our communities, and the world. We belong to a culture of bold innovators, of people who believe that their skills, creativity, and passion can deliver solutions that can enhance people’s lives. We create what's next, transforming our imagination into innovation. We have a welcoming and collaborative environment to build and grow a career in a multinational company. Here, everyone can be their authentic selves and be part of a community of talented and caring people, interacting with professionals around the world, made up of varied backgrounds, cultures and industries. We are encouraged to think differently and innovate through collaboration and experimentation. We are constantly imagining new ways to bring value to our customers, through new ingredients, solutions, and ways of working.