Controls Engineer - Food Manufacturing

Controls Engineer - Food Manufacturing (19EE077AF
A8926de) Rockwall, Texas

Salary: USD
100000 - USD
110000 per year + Benefits and More!

$110,000 – $120,000 per year

Trend Personnel Services is working on behalf of our client who is a rapidly growing, premium North American chocolate manufacturer to find an exceptional Controls Engineer for their brand‑new, 225,000 sq. ft. state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing and distribution campus opening in Rockwall, Texas in 2026.

This is a rare ground‑floor opportunity to own automation from day one — commissioning new production lines, establishing standards, and building the technical foundation of a next‑generation food manufacturing facility. If you are passionate about building systems that last, this is the role for you.

• Join the startup team of a brand‑new, technologically advanced manufacturing campus — build your systems, set your standards.
• Competitive compensation of $110,000–$120,000 with a well‑capitalized, founder‑led company investing for the long term.
• Work with modern platforms:
  Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Schneider Electric, and Ignition SCADA.
• High‑visibility role reporting directly to the Head of Automation, IT & OT — real influence on automation strategy.
• Stable, growing company with three North American facilities and continued expansion underway.
• Collaborative environment working alongside Maintenance, Production, Quality, and external OEM partners.

The Controls Engineer serves as the primary technical owner of all automation and control systems throughout the facility — including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, instrumentation, and machine integration. Reporting to the Head of Automation, IT & OT, this role works closely with Maintenance, Production, Quality, Engineering, OEMs, and external integrators.

Design, implement, troubleshoot, and optimize PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and industrial networks across the facility.

Lead the commissioning of new production lines and integration of OEM equipment.

Establish and maintain automation standards, documentation frameworks, and best practices for the Rockwall campus.

• Own instrumentation calibration and utility control systems (HVAC, compressed air, steam, water treatment).
• Build real‑time OEE dashboards and production visibility tools through historian and SCADA platforms.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on uptime, throughput, and process optimization.
• Ensure all automation systems comply with food safety standards including SQF, GMP, and FSMA requirements.
• Serve as the on‑site technical mentor for maintenance and operations teams on controls‑related matters.
• Collaborate with OEMs, external integrators, and internal stakeholders to deliver seamless equipment startups.
• Occasional travel to sister facilities as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field (required).
• 5–10+ years of hands‑on controls engineering experience in high‑speed manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networking, instrumentation, and equipment commissioning.
• Background in food, beverage, CPG, or similarly regulated manufacturing settings is a strong plus.

• Rockwell Automation:
  Studio 5000, Factory Talk View & Historian
• Siemens: TIA Portal
• Schneider Electric:
  Eco Struxure Control Expert / Unity Pro
• Ignition SCADA (Inductive Automation)
• VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
• OPC‑UA communications and SQL database integration
• Electrical troubleshooting and panel design/review

Root Cause Obsessed: You don’t just fix problems — you identify why they occur and implement lasting solutions.

Builder Mentality: You are energized by blank‑slate opportunities and take pride in creating systems that endure.

Calm Under Pressure: When production challenges arise, you are the steady, solutions‑focused presence the team relies on.

Detail‑Oriented: Your documentation is thorough, your standards are consistent, and your configurations are version‑controlled.

Systems Thinker: You see how mechanical, electrical, and software elements interconnect — and design with that in mind.

Teacher & Coach: You actively share expertise and enjoy helping maintenance and operations teams build their skills.