PLC Controls Leader - Maintenance

Overview

Your Opportunity as the PLC Controls Leader

The Controls Leader will provide active support with regard to power and control systems, equipment specification and maintenance, proper operation, technician development, troubleshooting and repair to achieve or exceed reliability targets within the bakery or a specific department. Throughout the plant start-up process as well as in ongoing operations, this role has responsibility for systems optimization, compliance, personnel safety and technician skill development relative to plant electrical power and process control systems.

Location:

1969 Victory Dr., Columbus, GA (Hostess Manufacturing Facility)

Work arrangements: 100% on‑site, Day Shift 6AM-6PM – flexibility required; willingness to work off shift (including nights, weekends, and/or holidays) and flow to the work as needed.

• Serve as primary administrator and troubleshooter for plant power and control systems and act as a key member of plant technical leadership.
• Build and maintain a sustainable system for plant E&I skill development; coach on skill assessment and development of operating and E&I technicians within the department.
• Work with the site Technical Manager to build and maintain sustainable process and machine control onboarding and ongoing development systems for plant Process Engineers, Interns and Area Leaders.
• Work with the site Technical Manager and Plant Engineer to develop power and control standards and ensure application of the standards in the area of responsibility.
• Communicate and enforce technician compliance with local and national regulator codes; ensure equipment and safe practice compliance.
• Validate operating data from PLC into Proficy or other MES systems; support plant PEs in conditioning PLC data for effective data analysis, including application development.
• Own the validity and ongoing system for maintaining site sustainability metering equipment (power monitors and usage flow meters); use power monitoring data to develop plans to reduce overall consumption and costs.
• Provide expertise in design and implementation of machine control and process automation applications, such as control strategies, HMI design, MES applications and KPI development.
• Collaborate with site Technical Manager, other department management and technicians to identify losses, and develop plans and strategies to eliminate them in the areas of safety, quality, reliability and cost.
• Own key elements for systems related to power and control systems.
• Work closely with engineering and operations leaders on selection and installation/start‑up of new equipment; become the controls systems technical expert on new equipment and ensure training of others.
• Provide power and controls engineering support on capital initiatives in the area of responsibility.
• Support other plant areas on a daily basis.
• Learn and apply advanced control, simulation and process modeling technologies to analyze and improve overall process and packaging operations.
• Install and provide technical support for PLC‑based hardware and software.
• Troubleshoot and eliminate control systems issues; handle controls projects; extend start‑up support and training for control and monitoring systems.
• Execute wireless communication systems for manufacturing.
• Create system map layouts, sequence of operations, drawing packages, PLC logic, and HMI screens.
• Assist in installation oversight and start‑up debugging of machines.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of relevant controls experience.
• 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• Strong knowledge of machine and/or process control hardware, instrumentation and software including Allen Bradley PLC and Rockwell Factory Talk platforms.
• Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Mechanical and electrical experience in food manufacturing.
• Experience leading and influencing others.
• Experience learning and integrating new technologies.
• Experience leading the installation of equipment in a food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated…