Assoc Mgr Process Controls
About The Position
The Associate Manager, Process Controls supports reliable and efficient manufacturing at The Hershey Company’s Bluffton plant, which produces products including Dot’s Pretzels and Pirate’s Booty in a high-speed, complex environment. The role executes defined scopes of automation, packaging, and control-system projects and provides hands-on technical support for plant electrical and control systems. It works with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, equipment suppliers, and external project teams throughout design, installation, testing, startup, troubleshooting, and optimization. The position helps improve system performance, reliability, safety, documentation, and cybersecurity while advancing practical improvements across processing and packaging operations. The role includes technical delivery of control and packaging projects; design, development, integration, and optimization of automated systems; technical support and troubleshooting for manufacturing operations; project testing and startup; continuous improvement; maintenance of system records and software; and application of food-industry, construction, electrical, safety, and cybersecurity requirements. It may require response to critical operational issues outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology, including Electrical or Mechatronics, or equivalent work experience.
- At least 3 years of relevant experience in Operations, Engineering, automation, process controls, or a related field.
- Advanced knowledge of electrical controls, automation, instrumentation, industrial networking, power systems, PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, control safety systems, and motor controls.
- Experience supporting manufacturing equipment and operations, including processing systems such as batching, blending, and baking, as well as packaging, controls, and mechanical/electrical systems.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment and system issues, perform root cause analysis, develop alternatives, and implement practical technical solutions for existing and newly installed systems.
- Ability to communicate technical problem resolutions and learning points and support internal customers, suppliers, contractors, and external technical resources.
- Basic to intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and AutoCAD.
- Working knowledge of project management activities such as purchase requisitioning, contractor time monitoring, internal orders, and project timelines.
- Ability to work onsite in a manufacturing environment and occasionally work shifts outside the primary assignment.
- Ability to comply with personal protective equipment and Good Manufacturing Practices requirements; the manufacturing environment contains multiple allergens.
Responsibilities
- Execute assigned engineering tasks and technical delivery for control and packaging system projects in alignment with designs, specifications, engineering standards, architectural requirements, and timelines.
- Design, develop, integrate, and optimize automated process and packaging systems using PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, servo systems, industrial networks, digital controls, instrumentation, motor controls, distributed control systems, and control safety systems.
- Provide technical leadership and support to Operations and Maintenance for troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem resolution, and optimization of electrical controls, automation, networking, power distribution, industrial computer systems, and related manufacturing equipment.
- Support equipment checkout, testing, installation, and startup; coordinate with project teams, contractors, vendors, engineers, manufacturing supervision, and production employees; and develop practical solutions for assigned scopes.
- Lead or participate in improvement efforts to enhance equipment reliability, system performance, maintainability, and productivity, including adopting practical new technologies and replacing obsolete or less productive systems.
- Maintain accurate, current, and secure electrical drawings, control-system software, specifications, and technical records for assigned systems.
- Apply relevant food-industry, construction, electrical, safety, and cybersecurity requirements, including NFPA 70E and plant standards.
- Prepare or support cost estimates, feasibility assessments, specifications, alternatives, and recommendations for capital and operational solutions.
- Serve as a technical resource for process control and automation systems and respond to critical operational issues outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as required.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning on Day 1.
- Wellness programs supporting physical and mental health.
- Competitive pay and annual incentive opportunities.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Flexible ways of working where applicable.
- Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility.
- Performance-based incentives and a comprehensive benefits package, as applicable.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
