Senior Controls Engineer

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive. Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries.

We’re extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Sonoco launched the Automation Team in late 2022 to provide corporate resources to lead and support automation projects in partnership with ISI Robotics. Our long-term goal is to internalize the capability to design, build, integrate, and support automation solutions, enabling faster and more effective implementations across operations.

In late 2023, our Machinery Manufacturing division in Hartsville, SC was assigned to the Automation Team, providing machining, fabrication and assembly capabilities. Investments were made to double the size of this operation in 2024, equipping the Automation Team to internalize manufacturing control design, installation, and support, previously outsourced.

Reporting directly to Sonoco’s Manufacturing Automation Engineering Manager, the Senior Electrical Engineering Manager will lead the electrical and controls group in our new Hartsville facility and oversee the design, build, integration, installation, and support of innovative controls and automation solutions for high-volume, diverse manufacturing technologies.

• Leadership of the electrical, controls, and automation technicians, including training, development, and oversight of day-to-day activities.
• Development and retention of talent.
• Development of process standards that ensure consistency and a focus on maximizing safety performance of all solutions.
• Manage the change‑management process and IP security for all elements of solutions, including drawings, source code, and concepts.
• Actively participate in and lead collaborative brainstorming sessions to conceptualize the simplest automation solution for complex problems.
• Design electrical systems for customized automation solutions using EPLAN.
• Provide support for and assist automation technicians during panel fabrication, shop testing, installation, and field support.
• Develop reliable PLC programs in Studio
  5000.
• Develop intuitive HMI programs.
• Integrate comprehensive alarms and messaging into PLC and HMI programs.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting for automated machinery as needed.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance teams to ensure equipment is properly operated and maintained.
• Support automated data collection and reliability tracking.
• Create capital project proposals that clearly communicate the opportunity and proposed solution to Plant, Divisional, and Corporate leadership teams.
• Manage automation projects, including supervising in‑house, contract, and OEM resources to ensure on‑time and on‑budget delivery.
• Collaborate with internal Supply Management and OEM to generate scopes and/or detailed performance statements of work for new assets.
• Actively collaborate with Business Units in continuous improvement efforts.

• Solid knowledge of all applicable safety regulations related to controls and automation solutions.
• Solid understanding and experience with electrical control system design software (EPLAN preferred).
• Demonstrated leadership and development of highly skilled controls and automation technicians.
• Experience overseeing lean control panel fabrication processes (leveraging EPLAN Pro Panel or similar).
• PLC and HMI programming experience (Studio
  5000 for PLC and Maple Systems for HMIs preferred).
• Ignition or similar SCADA system experience is a plus.
• Solid knowledge of troubleshooting equipment problems and performing complex system tests.
• Creative thinking skills.
• Detail-oriented personality.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to communicate and…