Automation & Controls Engineer

Unilever • Independence, MO

2d

About The Position

This role exists to manage the end-to-end delivery of site capital projects focused on electrical upgrades and controls and automation. This role drives the site masterplan for electrical systems and automation, ensuring alignment with Unilever design standards and global engineering teams. In addition to project execution, the position provides technical support for day-to-day operations and reliability initiatives, enabling safe, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing performance. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet. Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

Requirements

• Education: BS in an Engineering Field
• Software / PLC programming knowledge, Process and packaging electrical hardware knowledge
• Experience: 2-3+ Years of Controls Engineering in FMCG / related Industry or gained in an engineering consultancy environment
• Project Management experience with electrical / controls and automation systems.

Nice To Haves

• Attained Professional Engineer Status (Or member of professional institution)
• First-hand experience delivering major electrical and controls and automation capital projects within Unilever or similar FMCG environment

Responsibilities

• Lead all electrical engineering and controls/automation capital projects at the site, ensuring compliance with Unilever corporate standards.
• Serve as the site expert for electrical and automation systems, providing technical guidance on SCADA, PLC, HMI, DCS, variable speed drives, and servo-motion control to maximize plant efficiency and reliability.
• Manage software modifications and optimization of control programs; maintain accurate documentation and version control for all systems.
• Drive development and execution of the plant masterplan for electrical systems and controls/automation in alignment with Unilever global design standards.
• Provide technical input to category engineering teams for innovation and renovation projects, supporting new product introductions and re-stages.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including manufacturing, Maintenance, engineering, and union workforce, to deliver improvement initiatives and resolve complex technical issues.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for electrical, instrumentation, and control system failures to enhance reliability.
• Champion value engineering and continuous improvement initiatives, introducing new ways of working to reduce installed cost while upholding Unilever’s core values.
• Deliver assigned capital projects On Time In Full (OTIF), managing budgets typically ranging from €0.05M to €2M, with safety as the top priority.

Benefits

• Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees