Senior Utility Systems Engineer - Energy & Cost Optimization

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Bonus opportunity

Great pay and stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Conagra Brands is seeking a seasoned utility systems leader to partner with Procurement, Supply Chain Engineering, and Operations to reduce costs and improve equipment performance across complex infrastructure.

You will evaluate, modernize, and implement energy strategies, lead Front End Loading, develop capital plans, and guide cross‑functional teams through design reviews, performance analysis, and cost‑focused improvements.

Qualifications

• 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 (steam/condensate, compressed air, boilers, hot water, wastewater).
• 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 stakeholder engagement across technical and non-technical teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 50 percent.
• Position may be remote east of Denver, CO and requires regular travel to manufacturing facilities.

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.
• Partner with platform engineering leadership to develop annual and multi-year capital plans by recommending energy and utility system improvements.
• 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/water, compressed air, boilers, hot water, and wastewater treatment.
• Collaborate with engineering project managers to develop preliminary capital/expense estimates, schedules, and performance criteria.
• Identify alternatives, prerequisites, risks, and opportunities for proposed utility/energy solutions.
• Review Front End Loading Phase 1 and briefs by third parties for accuracy and effectiveness.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure correct implementation and compliance with codes.
• Analyze system performance data and metrics to identify improvement opportunities and build business cases.

Skills

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Energy/utility systems

Engineering design

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Conagra Brands is seeking a seasoned utility systems leader to partner with Procurement, Supply Chain Engineering, and Operations to reduce costs and improve equipment performance across complex infrastructure.

You will evaluate, modernize, and implement energy strategies, lead Front End Loading, develop capital plans, and guide cross‑functional teams through design reviews, performance analysis, and cost‑focused improvements.