Principal Mechanical Engineer

Ingredion • Westchester, Illinois, United States • $124k - $165k / year • 8h ago

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; Indianapolis, IN; North Kansas City, MO

Workplace type: Hybrid

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will serve as a global Subject Matter Expert in mechanical engineering for utilities and process equipment, providing technical leadership, design support, troubleshooting, and project oversight across multiple Ingredion facilities to drive manufacturing, safety, reliability, quality, and cost efficiency.

This role reports to the Director of Global Process Engineering, Utilities

What you will do:

Delivers mechanical engineering expertise across multiple Ingredion facilities, including system design, equipment specification, troubleshooting, optimization, and engineering studies to support safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.
Apply deep technical knowledge in areas such as bulk solids handling, rotating equipment, utilities (boilers, compressors, cogeneration), and mechanical systems design, ensuring compliance with codes, standards, and best practices.
Evaluates and scopes projects to ensure optimal technology selection, accurate budgeting, and alignment with business goals, while reviewing designs for safety and operational excellence.
Leads cross-functional teams to solve complex mechanical challenges, implement sustainable solutions, and drive continuous improvement across sites.
Drives standardization and knowledge sharing by authoring engineering standards, contributing to knowledge management systems, and promoting best practices globally.
Supports operational governance by applying IPS standards, leading deviation treatments, and developing Best Operating Practices (BOPs) with training and adherence tracking.
Mentors early-career engineers and documents success cases and lessons learned to build organizational capability and enhance performance across key KPIs.

What you will bring:

Bachelors or masters degree in mechanical engineering or related field with equivalent experience.
Significant experience in Mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing required. Experience with multi-site, regional, or global experience preferred.

Who you are:

Applies deep industry expertise and resourcefulness to deliver critical business objectives and address complex technical requirements across regions.
Collaborates effectively within multi-disciplinary teams and drives global knowledge-sharing to enhance services and innovation across the Ingredion network.
Champions talent development by mentoring and training early-career process engineers to build future technical leadership.

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