Principal Engineer - Sustainability

Title: Principal Engineer - Sustainability

Location: Kennewick, WA

About Lamb Weston

You’ve probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, and public Fortune 500 company, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.

A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You’ll gain access to hands-on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you’ll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar – together.

If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.

Job Description Summary

Lamb Weston is committed to operating our business in a way that ensures long-term environmental sustainability. Lamb Weston has developed energy (greenhouse gas), water, and waste reduction goals to support this commitment. This position is a key enabler to Lamb Weston's success in achieving these global sustainability goals and initiatives by providing technical leadership to Global Engineering and the Global Supply Chain Organization.

As the enterprise sustainable engineering Technical subject matter expert (SME), this position also serves as a consultant to internal engineers, providing technical information and engineering recommendations. A key responsibility is the review of proposed projects and project documentation to ensure compliance with performance criteria, economic viability, company standards, and best practices. This position will also develop, modify and review engineering specifications.

The successful candidate will prepare and present reports, papers, studies, and project scope/schedule/budget to executive leadership within Lamb Weston and so requires an elevated level of organizational and communication skills. Operational and training document creation for systems used by LW associates is critical.

Job Description

• Lead and deliver global engineering sustainability initiatives and long-term strategies.
• Function as subject matter expert for energy, water, and waste systems.
• Collaborate with other business functions driving overall global sustainability goals and initiatives.
• Identify and promote energy & water savings and system improvement opportunities.
• Identify and promote waste reduction opportunities.
• Identify, evaluate, and demonstrate innovative energy & water efficiency technology. 
• Evaluate new sources/supplies of energy.
• Lead engagement of energy/water efficiency grant and incentive programs.
• Deliver timely, accurate and effective implementation of engineering and project related work.
• Serve as leader and mentor through focused technical expertise and innovation.
• Provide guidance and development of best practices with a sustainability focus.
• Coach, teach, and train operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.
• Audit/assess efficiency of existing manufacturing systems/equipment as it relates to sustainability impacts.
• Audit/assess effectiveness of sustainability and reliability programs.
• Develop and advance professional capabilities of the department through developing and delivering training, writing and reviewing engineering specifications, and capturing and communicating best practices.
• Review proposed capital projects to ensure sustainability impacts are accurately identified and maximized for each project.
• Leadership of project teams in effective project implementations.
• Meet or exceed project quality, cost, schedule, and performance metrics.

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

Education/ Certifications:

• BA or BS in Engineering is required.
• Professional Engineering licensing and/or accreditation is a plus.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) accreditation is a plus.

Skills and Experience:

• 10+ years of experience to include the design, installation, operation, and optimization of manufacturing/industrial process systems.
• Manufacturing plant experience is required.
• Food processing experience is preferred.
• Experience in project management and engineering is required.
• Experience in energy savings and sustainability initiatives is required.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and other sustainability measures is required.
• Understanding of the greenhouse gas emissions calculations and reporting protocols is a plus.
• Experience with circular economy or industrial/agricultural symbiosis is preferred.
• Must be detail orientated, possess excellent technical and analytical skills, and be a proven self-starter.
• Working knowledge and use of modeling software packages preferred.
• Demonstrated capability to work on teams and support others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting to and interfacing with senior leadership
• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills.
• Experience with grant and incentive programs.
• Proficiency in desktop applications includes Windows, Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time on average with peaks potentially exceeding that amount for some duration.

Physical Environment/ Demands:

• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time on average with peaks potentially exceeding that amount for some duration.
• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at desk or computer terminal
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. 
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone and other office equipment in the course of normal workday
• Stooping, bending, twisting and reaching may be required in completion of job duties
• Valid Driver’s License and driving record that meets Lamb Weston Driving Standards

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive.  Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts

• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program

• Paid Time Off

• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance

• Family-Friendly Employee events

• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Job Requisition ID: Req-257502

Time Type: Full time

Anticipated Close Date: 06/28/2025

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate’s work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role based on the variables previously mentioned is: $113,930.00 - $170,900.00

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law