Automation & Controls Lead
About The Position
The Automation & Controls Leader is the plant’s go‑to expert for automation, controls, and factory‑floor network systems. This role owns the strategy, reliability, and continuous improvement of all control systems—ensuring they operate safely, efficiently, and in alignment with plant and business goals. Beyond the home site, this leader may support a regional pod of plants, providing technical guidance, coaching technicians, and influencing automation strategy across multiple facilities. It’s a high‑impact role for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering, operations, and innovation.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Proven experience leading automation/controls in a manufacturing environment
- Strong expertise in PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, and control system architecture
- Experience managing automation projects end‑to‑end
- Ability to influence across multiple sites and functions
- Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity and OT/IT integration
- Leadership experience with technical teams
- Strong problem‑solving skills in high‑availability environments
- Valid U.S. work authorization
Nice To Haves
- Experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary in‑plant authority for automation and control systems
- Ensure peak performance and reliability of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, drives, and industrial networks
- Align automation strategy with plant goals for safety, quality, productivity, and cost
- Own factory‑floor network design, performance, cybersecurity posture, and obsolescence planning
- Manage hardware/software lifecycle, upgrades, and mitigation plans
- Lead automation projects from concept through commissioning and handoff
- Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Operations to ensure seamless execution
- Diagnose and resolve complex automation and controls issues
- Implement solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and safety
- Maintain automation standards, documentation, and change‑management processes
- Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting support to sister plants within the pod
- Coach and develop automation technicians across sites
- Partner with Technical Services Managers to elevate automation capability and standardization
Benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Disability
- Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life)
- Defined Contribution Retirement Plan
- Paid parental leave
- Vacation
- Sick
- Bereavement
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
