Automation Engineer

Flora Food Group • Liberal, KS

13d • Onsite

About The Position

In your first year, you will establish and own the automation function at Flora Food Group’s new dairy manufacturing facility in Hugoton. Your work will ensure smooth, reliable production of processed milk, creamers, and cream cheeses by delivering robust automation systems and resolving faults quickly. This role is critical to building a foundation for operational excellence and innovation in dairy processing, directly impacting the quality and consistency of the food we bring to kitchens. Your expertise will shape how automation supports our mission to create better food, every day.

Requirements

• Strong technical skills in Rockwell Automation PLC and HMI programming.
• Experience with server virtualization.
• Experience with industrial networking.
• Experience leading automation projects.
• Experience troubleshooting in food or dairy manufacturing environments.
• Self-starter who thrives in a greenfield setting, balancing daily operational demands with strategic delivery.
• Communication skills to collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.
• Genuinely interested in food culture and curious about how consumer behaviour and future food trends shape innovation.
• Understanding that strong brands are built by anticipating what’s next in taste, nutrition and functionality, and by translating insight into meaningful consumer experiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with the Rockwell Automation platform.

Responsibilities

• Program, configure, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems on the Rockwell Automation platform to keep production running efficiently.
• Lead automation capital projects from design through commissioning, coordinating with suppliers and global teams to deliver on time and on budget.
• Manage server virtualization and industrial network infrastructure to ensure system stability and security.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation faults in real time to minimize downtime and maintain product quality.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs and documentation for all automation assets.
• Own the full automation landscape at the Hugoton site, driving uptime and system reliability.
• Utilize a data-driven approach to reduce production interruptions and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Enable the plant to meet its production targets and uphold Flora Food Group’s standards for better food by delivering projects and maintaining systems with precision.
• Foster collaboration across functions to ensure automation solutions are safe, compliant, and sustainable.
• Protect critical assets and support long-term plant performance through leadership in preventive maintenance and lifecycle management.

Benefits

• Opportunities to influence multi-site automation strategies.
• Opportunities to shape broader digital transformation initiatives across Flora Food Group’s manufacturing network.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed