Controls Engineer

A growing food and beverage manufacturer is seeking a Controls Engineer to support and improve plant automation systems in a highly automated production environment. This individual will play a key role in designing, programming, troubleshooting, and optimizing control systems that drive production efficiency, reliability, safety, and continuous improvement.

• Design, develop, modify, and optimize PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems to support manufacturing operations.
• Program and troubleshoot automation systems using platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar technologies.
• Diagnose and resolve issues involving control circuits, instrumentation, sensors, VFDs, motors, and industrial communication networks.
• Support production, maintenance, and engineering teams in identifying and resolving automation-related downtime.
• Configure, calibrate, and maintain process instrumentation and control devices.
• Develop and maintain control narratives, wiring diagrams, electrical schematics, SOPs, and system documentation.
• Lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5-Why, Fishbone, and FMEA.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives that increase equipment reliability, improve throughput, and reduce downtime.
• Maintain industrial control networks, including Ether Net/IP, Modbus, Profinet, and related communication protocols.
• Manage hardware and software revisions while ensuring appropriate change control documentation.
• Participate in project execution, equipment upgrades, commissioning activities, and startup support.
• Partner cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, quality, safety, and engineering teams to drive business objectives.
• Ensure all automation systems comply with OSHA, NFPA 79, ISO, ANSI B11, and other applicable safety requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related technical discipline. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of controls engineering experience within a food and beverage manufacturing environment.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs and working with SCADA systems and industrial automation technologies.
• Strong understanding of electrical troubleshooting, instrumentation, control panels, and industrial networks.
• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience in aseptic processing environments.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation platforms.
• Experience with Siemens PLCs and HMI systems.
• Knowledge of batch processing, CIP systems, process controls, and instrumentation.
• Experience with Factory Talk, Ignition, or similar SCADA platforms.
• Understanding of food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements within food manufacturing.

The work environment consists of 30% desk work and 70% on the plant floor. The role offers a flexible schedule with a requirement to work 10 hours at a time, allowing the Controls Engineer to start and end the workday at their discretion. The environment is highly automated and requires a hands-on approach, bridging operations, maintenance, and engineering.

This is a Permanent position based out of Lathrop, CA.

The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $135000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

• Vision, Health, Dental, 401k, to full time…