Food Process Engineering Jobs in Phoenix, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Process Engineer – Utilities & Water Treatment

Job Description

The Process Engineer – Utilities & Water Treatment provides technical leadership for site utility and water systems, including steam generation, cooling systems, chilled water, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water reuse. This role focuses on optimizing system performance, improving reliability, supporting safe and compliant operations, and leading process improvement initiatives from concept through commissioning. You will drive operational excellence, sustainability, and cost efficiency while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead process design, analysis, troubleshooting, and optimization for boilers, steam systems, cooling systems, chilled water systems, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water reuse systems.
• Identify and execute debottlenecking opportunities to increase capacity, improve reliability, enhance efficiency, and reduce operating costs.
• Analyze performance data to identify losses and failure modes, and implement corrective actions using structured methods such as DMAIC, root cause analysis, and standard work.
• Develop and maintain control narratives, functional specifications, standard operating procedures (SOPs), P&IDs, operating procedures, alarms, interlocks, critical parameters, and operating limits for utility and water systems.
• Partner with automation, operations, maintenance, quality, and EHS teams to implement and optimize safe, reliable, and compliant control strategies.
• Maintain technical documentation required for audits, inspections, regulatory compliance, and internal standards.
• Support capital projects through scope development, design reviews, and equipment selection, ensuring alignment with performance and compliance requirements.
• Participate in and support factory acceptance tests (FAT) and site acceptance tests (SAT), as well as commissioning, start-up, and performance verification of new or modified systems.
• Resolve process and equipment issues during project implementation to achieve design capacity, reliability, quality, and compliance objectives.
• Monitor and interpret utility key performance indicators (KPIs), including capacity, uptime, water usage, chemical usage, energy efficiency, and operating cost, and recommend actions to improve performance.
• Support the development and optimization of maintenance strategies that enhance reliability and extend asset life.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for utility and water treatment systems, providing guidance on best practices and technical standards.
• Provide technical coaching, training, and troubleshooting support to operations and maintenance teams to build capability and ensure consistent performance.
• Lead or support site improvement initiatives, standardization efforts, and cross-functional problem-solving activities focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Contribute to operational excellence and sustainability initiatives within utilities and water treatment, particularly in a food and beverage or industrial manufacturing context.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3–8+ years of experience in process engineering, utilities, water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage manufacturing, or industrial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience with process improvement, commissioning, start-up, troubleshooting, and cross-functional technical projects.
• Strong knowledge of water treatment systems, including filtration, softening, reverse osmosis, and chemical dosing.
• Strong knowledge of boiler and steam systems, including steam generation and distribution.
• Strong knowledge of cooling systems and heat transfer principles in an industrial environment.
• Experience with wastewater treatment processes and utility operations.
• Experience working with PLC- or DCS-based control systems, including alarms, interlocks, operating limits, and automation strategies.
• Experience developing and interpreting P&IDs, control narratives, SOPs, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency in data analysis and root cause analysis for performance issues and failures.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate across functions.
• Experience coordinating technical projects and working with operations, maintenance, quality, and EHS teams.
• Ability to train and coach others on technical topics related to utilities and water treatment.
• in process engineering within utilities and water treatment, with a focus on efficiency, cost reduction, and reliability.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in food and beverage manufacturing environments or similar regulated industrial manufacturing settings.
• Exposure to maintenance management practices for utility and water treatment systems.
• Experience identifying and addressing bottlenecks in complex utility or process systems.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies such as DMAIC and standard work.
• Interest in sustainability, water reuse, and energy efficiency initiatives.
• Ability to contribute to standardization efforts and site-wide improvement programs.
• Comfort working on cross-functional teams in a collaborative, continuous improvement–oriented culture.

Work Environment

This role operates in a manufacturing work environment focused on utilities and water treatment systems. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, automation, quality, and EHS teams around boilers, steam systems, cooling systems, chilled water systems, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water reuse infrastructure. The environment involves exposure to industrial equipment, process utilities, and control systems such as PLC/DCS platforms. Work may include time in plant areas for troubleshooting, commissioning, start-up, and performance verification, as well as office-based activities for analysis, design, documentation, and collaboration. The culture emphasizes continuous improvement, operational excellence, reliability, and sustainability within a team-oriented setting.

This is a Contract position based out of Waddell, AZ.

The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $70.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Waddell,AZ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 27, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.