Principal Automation Engineer

Chobani•Twin Falls, ID

1d•$154,000 - $242,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Automation Engineer serves as the technical authority for automation and controls systems across Chobani manufacturing operations. This role provides strategic, hands on technical leadership to define automation architecture, standards, and best practices that enable safe, reliable, scalable, and secure plant operations. As a senior individual contributor, the Principal Automation Engineer influences outcomes across multiple sites through design leadership, technical governance, and deep expertise. This role partners closely with Engineering, Operations, IT, Cybersecurity, and Capital Project teams to deliver world class automation solutions that support Chobani’s growth and operational excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years of progressive experience in automation, controls, and industrial systems within manufacturing environments.
Deep expertise in PLC programming, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networking, and automation system integration.
Proven experience developing and governing automation standards and architectures across multiple projects or sites.
Strong ability to influence without formal people management authority.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting large scale capital projects, multi site manufacturing environments, or greenfield builds.
Knowledge of OT cybersecurity principles and OT/IT convergence.
Advanced experience with data historians, SQL databases, and manufacturing data systems.
Background in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Serve as the automation and controls design authority across Chobani manufacturing sites.
Define, own, and maintain enterprise automation standards, including PLCs, SCADA/HMI platforms, industrial networks, historians, and OT system architectures.
Establish best practices for automation lifecycle management, documentation, testing, commissioning, and long term support.
Lead automation architecture reviews for large capital projects, expansions, and first of kind implementations.
Provide technical approval and guidance for automation designs developed internally or by third party integrators.
Partner with IT and Cybersecurity teams to advance OT/IT integration while ensuring system security, resilience, and compliance.
Act as a senior technical resource on major automation capital projects, reducing technical risk and ensuring scalable, sustainable designs.
Partner with OEM and integrators to assure successful commissioning.
Support greenfield and brownfield projects from concept through startup and stabilization.
Serve as the escalation point for complex, high impact automation and controls issues.
Lead technical root cause investigations related to automation system failures, reliability events, or performance constraints.
Develop long term corrective actions that improve system robustness across sites.
Mentor Senior Automation Engineers and Automation Managers through technical coaching and design reviews.
Develop automation playbooks, standards documentation, and technical training resources.
Elevate enterprise automation capability by sharing knowledge and best practices across the organization.

Benefits

medical, dental, vision coverage
disability insurance
health savings account
flexible spending accounts
tuition reimbursement
401k match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay
fertility and childcare assistance
12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment
employee assistance program
fitness discounts
a wellness reimbursement
on-site gym access (certain locations)
a monthly wellness newsletter
120 hours of paid time off
11 holidays
paid volunteer time off