Sr. Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer

The Controls Engineer in a large facility plant setting. Required knowledge of Rockwell and Allen-Bradley with the ability to trouble-shoot, debug and program from scratch if necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource for plant electrical, controls, instrumentation, and automation systems.
• Troubleshoot, optimize, and improve controls and electrical systems to support safety, quality, reliability, and productivity.
• Develop and maintain plant controls standards and long-term automation strategies, including equipment replacement planning.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and training to E&I technicians.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA, OSHA, and plant electrical safety requirements, including LOTO and energized work practices.
• Support PLC, HMI, MES, and automation system development, programming, commissioning, and optimization.
• Validate PLC/MES data and support data analysis, KPI development, and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, and Maintenance to identify losses and implement improvements in safety, quality, reliability, and cost.
• Provide controls and electrical engineering support for capital projects, equipment installations, modifications, and startups.
• Serve as the plant subject matter expert for new controls and automation technologies and support technician training.
• Provide technical support for critical process and quality systems, including checkweighers, metal detectors, vision systems, flow controls, and temperature controls.
• Apply automation, simulation, modeling, and data technologies to improve manufacturing and packaging processes.
• Stay current with emerging automation technologies and identify opportunities to improve plant performance

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required;
  Electrical Engineering preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant controls, automation, electrical, or industrial engineering experience.
• Manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with electrical, mechanical, controls, and instrumentation systems in a food manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, and startup preferred.
• Experience leading, training, coaching, or developing technical personnel preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of industrial automation, machine controls, process controls, instrumentation, and electrical systems.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs and Rockwell Automation Factory Talk platforms.
• Working knowledge of NFPA and OSHA requirements applicable to industrial electrical equipment and work practices.
• Experience with plant historians, MES, and manufacturing data systems.
• Understanding of PLC data structures and the ability to support data collection, validation, and analysis.
• Experience with HMI development, control strategies, automation applications, and process improvement.
• Experience with plant maintenance and manufacturing systems software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 applications.
• Ability to quickly learn, evaluate, and integrate new technologies.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Effective collaborator with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organization and ability to manage multiple priorities and projects.
• Self-motivated leader with the ability to coach, influence, and develop others.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into practical solutions and training.
• Proven ability to lead projects and drive continuous improvement.
• Willingness to work off-shifts, weekends, and provide technical support as needed.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Ability to work on the manufacturing floor and perform occasional physical tasks around equipment