Controls Leader

Your Opportunity as the 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 optimisation, compliance, personnel safety and technician skill development relative to plant electrical power and process control systems.

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

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 the primary administrator and troubleshooter for plant power and control systems and is 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 their area of responsibility.
• Know, communicate, and ensure technician compliance to local and national regulatory codes; also responsible for ensuring equipment and safe practice compliance in their area of responsibility.
• Validate operating data from PLC into Proficy or other MES systems; support plant PEs in conditioning PLC data to accommodate effective data analysis including application development.
• Own the validity and ongoing system for maintaining the site sustainability monitoring 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.
• Work 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 parts or whole key elements for systems related to power and control system.
• 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 their area of responsibility.
• Provide support throughout other parts of the plant on a daily basis.
• Learn and apply advanced control, simulation and process modelling technologies to analyze and improve overall process and packaging operations.
• Install and technically support PLC‑based hardware and software.
• Troubleshoot and eliminate control systems issues and handle controls projects.
• Extend start‑up support and training for control and monitoring systems.
• Execute wireless communication systems for manufacturing.
• Create system map layouts, sequences of operations, drawing packages, PLC logic, and HMI screens.
• Assist in installation oversight, start‑up and debug machines.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2years of relevant controls experience.
• 5years 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 preferred.
• Mechanical and electrical experience in food manufacturing preferred.
• Experience leading and influencing others preferred.
• Experience learning and…