Controls Engineer (Manufacturing Environment)

Cerelia Bakery Canada LP•Hazelwood, MO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Cérélia's US Waffle, a newly established Frozen Breakfast Business Unit, is undergoing rapid growth and is seeking a skilled Controls Engineer for its state-of-the-art Hazelwood, MO facility. This role is crucial for supporting and advancing the plant’s automation, controls, and electrical systems to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable manufacturing operations. The Controls Engineer will be responsible for managing PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems, ensuring uptime, troubleshooting complex issues, and facilitating new equipment integration and capital projects. This position is an integral part of the maintenance team, requiring a hands-on approach to actively support daily plant operations, including working alongside maintenance technicians, troubleshooting equipment, and performing mechanical and electrical work as needed to maintain uptime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
5+ years of experience in controls engineering within a manufacturing environment.
Strong experience with PLC programming.
Experience with HMI and SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Wonderware, or similar).
Strong knowledge of Industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, etc.).
Strong knowledge of Drives (VFDs), motors, and electrical systems.
Troubleshooting electrical and automation systems in a live production environment.
Demonstrated hands-on experience supporting maintenance teams, including mechanical and electrical troubleshooting.
Experience supporting capital projects, including equipment installation and commissioning.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings.
Experience working with OEM equipment and vendors.
Familiarity with food safety, GMP, and regulated manufacturing environments.
Experience with ERP systems.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams.
High sense of urgency and accountability.
Ability to train and develop maintenance personnel on controls systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field preferred.
Experience in a food/CPG manufacturing environment preferred.
Strong experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC programming strongly preferred.
Plex experience a plus for ERP systems.

Responsibilities

Report to work as scheduled every day, and demonstrate GREAT attendance.
Troubleshoot and resolve electrical and controls-related issues to minimize downtime and support production needs.
Own and support all plant control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and SCADA systems.
Actively support the maintenance team on the floor as part of daily operations.
Occasionally perform mechanical and electrical work (“turn a wrench”) to support uptime and team effectiveness.
Develop, modify, and optimize PLC and HMI programs to improve equipment performance, reliability, and efficiency.
Support and lead controls integration for new equipment and capital projects, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), startup and commissioning support, and system validation and performance optimization.
Standardize controls architecture and documentation across the plant.
Maintain and update electrical schematics, network layouts, and controls documentation.
Partner with OEMs (e.g., ovens, packaging systems) to support troubleshooting, upgrades, and system improvements.
Ensure proper backup and version control of all PLC and HMI programs.
Support plant network related to controls systems (OT network), ensuring secure and reliable connectivity.
Identify and implement automation improvements to reduce labor, improve throughput, and enhance product quality.
Support root cause analysis (RCA) efforts for recurring downtime and implement permanent corrective actions.
Train and support maintenance technicians in basic controls troubleshooting and system understanding.
Collaborate with maintenance and operations teams to ensure equipment readiness and minimal disruption to production.
Ensure all controls systems comply with safety standards, GMPs, and food safety requirements.
Support integration of systems with ERP/plant systems (e.g., Plex) where applicable.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to automation, controls, and system performance.
Perform other duties as assigned or of a similar nature or level.