Refrigeration Engineer

Job Description: The Senior Utilities & Refrigeration Engineer plays a critical role in the development of a new large-scale manufacturing facility and future utility infrastructure initiatives. In this hands-on engineering role, you serve as the subject matter expert for cooling, refrigeration, heating, and utility systems while leading major capital expansion projects and facility design efforts. You combine deep utility system design experience with practical project execution capabilities and understand how to scale infrastructure to support evolving manufacturing demands in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Responsibilities: Lead the design, specification, and implementation of utility infrastructure that supports manufacturing operations. Perform detailed cooling load, heating load, and capacity calculations to inform facility design, expansion plans, and long-term infrastructure strategy. Develop comprehensive utility strategies for chilled water, refrigeration, steam, boiler, HVAC, and supporting plant systems. Evaluate system redundancy, reliability, and future capacity requirements to ensure robust and scalable utility infrastructure. Support equipment selection, sizing, and technical evaluation of utility assets to align with performance and efficiency goals. Serve as the engineering lead for utility-related capital projects exceeding $50M, ensuring technical integrity and alignment with business objectives. Support greenfield facility development, including design review, commissioning, startup activities, and operational handoff to internal teams. Coordinate closely with engineering firms, system integrators, contractors, and equipment suppliers to deliver integrated utility solutions. Review engineering drawings, technical specifications, and utility system designs to verify compliance with standards and project requirements. Ensure utility-related projects are executed safely, delivered on schedule, and completed within budget constraints. Provide technical leadership for refrigeration, chiller, cooling tower, and process cooling systems across the facility. Support evolving manufacturing needs as product and flavor expansion drives increased cooling and chilling requirements. Identify and implement opportunities to improve system efficiency, reliability, and scalability in refrigeration and utility systems. Establish standards and best practices for future refrigeration and utility infrastructure to support long-term growth. Partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Facilities, Maintenance, EHS, and external contractors to align utility strategies with operational needs. Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of critical utility systems to restore performance and prevent recurrence. Assist in developing operational readiness plans, maintenance strategies, and standard operating procedures for new utility assets. Act as a builder and problem solver who drives utility infrastructure strategy while remaining actively involved in project execution.

Essential Skills: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.10+ years of experience supporting utility infrastructure within manufacturing environments. Demonstrated experience designing and sizing utility systems, including performing load calculations and capacity planning. Strong hands-on experience with refrigeration systems in industrial or manufacturing settings. Extensive experience working with chillers and associated cooling equipment. Proficiency with boilers and steam systems used in manufacturing utility networks. Experience with HVAC infrastructure, including design, integration, and performance optimization. Working knowledge of cooling towers and their role in process and facility cooling. Experience with chilled water systems, including design, operation, and capacity scaling. Proven track record supporting large capital projects of $50M or more in scope. Experience with greenfield facility development, major plant expansion, or large infrastructure projects. Demonstrated ability to work directly with contractors, equipment suppliers, system integrators, and engineering consultants. Strong project management skills with the ability to lead complex technical initiatives from concept through execution. Proven technical leadership capabilities, including guiding cross-functional teams and influencing utility infrastructure strategy. Experience in utility system design, plant utilities, and installation within manufacturing environments. Background in reliability engineering related to industrial cooling and utility systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications: Experience in food and beverage manufacturing environments. Industrial refrigeration system design experience, including large-scale cooling applications. Background supporting refrigerated manufacturing, cold storage, dairy, ingredient processing, pharmaceutical, or chemical manufacturing operations. Startup and commissioning experience for new facilities or major utility systems. Familiarity with sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives in utility and refrigeration systems. Exposure to wastewater treatment processes, even if not a primary focus of the role. Experience with capital expenditures planning and management for plant utilities and refrigeration projects. Ability to confidently discuss cooling loads, capacity requirements, equipment selection, redundancy planning, and utility infrastructure expansion with stakeholders. Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on building systems rather than performing routine maintenance.

Work Environment: This role operates within a large-scale, fast-paced manufacturing environment focused on growth and ongoing facility expansion. You work closely with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Operations, Facilities, Maintenance, and EHS, as well as external engineering firms, system integrators, contractors, and equipment suppliers. The work involves significant engagement with industrial utility and refrigeration technologies such as refrigeration systems, chillers, boilers, steam systems, HVAC infrastructure, cooling towers, and chilled water systems. You will be actively involved in greenfield facility development, major plant expansions, and large capital projects, including commissioning and startup activities. The environment emphasizes safety, reliability, and scalability of utility systems, and values a hands-on engineering approach where you spend time both in the office reviewing designs and on the plant floor overseeing installations and system performance.

Job Type & Location: This is a Permanent position based out of Bellwood, IL.