Principal Engineer, Intelligent Factory

Reynolds Consumer Products LLC • Louisville, KY

7d • $144,100 - $214,350 • Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Intelligent Factory Controls Engineer is a highly experienced individual contributor who advances manufacturing automation, equipment connectivity, and Intelligent Factory technologies across Reynolds Consumer Products’ Cooking and Foil operations. The role develops and implements scalable manufacturing technology solutions that enable data-driven decision-making, operational visibility, and digital transformation. It draws on expertise in controls engineering, industrial connectivity, and manufacturing systems integration to solve complex technical challenges, develop reusable solutions, and influence standards and best practices that improve performance, reliability, and business outcomes across multiple facilities.

Based at the Louisville plant in Louisville, Kentucky, the position supports the Louisville plant as well as the Hot Springs, Arkansas; Bellwood, Virginia; and Wheeling, Illinois plants. Travel may be up to 25%.

The role leads the design and deployment of integrated manufacturing technology architectures, connects production assets to Intelligent Factory platforms, and ensures manufacturing systems and operational technologies support analytics and performance management. It improves machine connectivity, data quality, operational measurement, efficiency, reliability, and productivity; evaluates emerging technologies and leads proof-of-concept and pilot initiatives; and establishes technical standards and governance aligned with architectural, operational, and cybersecurity requirements. The role partners with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators, provides expert consultation on significant technical issues, and supports knowledge transfer and technical capability development.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience, plus 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems integration, or related manufacturing technology. A master’s degree and experience supporting manufacturing digital transformation, operational excellence, or Intelligent Factory initiatives are preferred. The role is eligible for a 25% annual incentive, subject to business and individual performance goals and plan administration guidelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience to perform the essential functions.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems integration, or related manufacturing technology disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex manufacturing technology challenges involving PLCs, industrial networks, machine connectivity, SCADA, MES, historians, manufacturing data systems, and OT environments.
• Ability to independently develop, implement, and support enterprise-scale technical solutions that deliver measurable operational and business value across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Experience providing technical guidance, mentoring, and subject matter expertise to engineers, plant resources, OEMs, system integrators, and cross-functional project teams.
• Advanced knowledge of industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems integration, and OT environments.
• Expertise with PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networking, machine connectivity, and manufacturing data systems.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0, IIoT, advanced analytics, AI-enabled manufacturing technologies, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Travel up to 25%.
• Strategic mindset: anticipate future technical and market needs and translate insights into engineering strategies and long-term growth opportunities.
• Decision quality: evaluate technical feasibility, strategic fit, business potential, risk, and financial return to guide priorities and investments.
• Drive results across engineering, commercialization, cost reduction, and operational programs.
• Manage complex technical, operational, and organizational challenges by integrating information and developing practical, scalable solutions.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, vendors, and leadership teams.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting digital transformation, operational excellence, or Intelligent Factory initiatives within a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement manufacturing automation, connectivity, and Intelligent Factory solutions that improve operational performance, visibility, and business outcomes.
• Solve complex manufacturing technology challenges with scalable, reliable, supportable solutions aligned with business goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in controls, automation, industrial connectivity, and manufacturing systems integration, influencing technical direction across facilities.
• Lead the design and deployment of integrated manufacturing technology architectures connecting production assets with Intelligent Factory platforms.
• Integrate manufacturing systems, machine data, and operational technologies to support enterprise analytics, performance management, and digital transformation.
• Establish reusable technical approaches that accelerate deployment, improve consistency, and reduce complexity across manufacturing operations.
• Design and deliver machine connectivity and automation solutions that enable accurate performance measurement and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure manufacturing data is accurate and reliable for KPIs, operational analytics, and continuous improvement.
• Identify and implement technology-enabled opportunities to improve efficiency, reliability, productivity, and process performance.
• Evaluate, develop, and operationalize emerging manufacturing technologies that create business value and support Intelligent Factory strategy.
• Lead proof-of-concept and pilot initiatives, validate technologies, and establish approaches for scalable deployment.
• Advance controls, sensing, and connectivity capabilities for manufacturing intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI-driven initiatives.
• Establish and promote standards, best practices, and technical frameworks that improve consistency, maintainability, and supportability.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance for manufacturing technology investments, ensuring alignment with architectural, operational, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Capture and apply organizational learning to strengthen implementations and improve engineering practices.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators to deliver solutions meeting business and operational objectives.
• Provide expert consultation and drive resolution of complex technical challenges with significant operational impact.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and technical capability development for adoption and long-term support of implemented solutions.

Benefits

• Role eligible for a 25% annual incentive, provided the business meets financial goals and the individual meets performance goals, subject to plan administration guidelines.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal