Principal Engineer, Intelligent Factory

Reynolds Consumer Products • Louisville, KY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Intelligent Factory Controls Engineer is a highly experienced individual contributor responsible for advancing manufacturing automation, equipment connectivity, and Intelligent Factory technologies across Reynolds Consumer Products’ Cooking and Foil operations. Based at the Louisville plant, the role also supports plants in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Bellwood, Virginia; and Wheeling, Illinois, with travel up to 25%. The engineer develops scalable manufacturing technology solutions that enable data-driven decision-making, operational visibility, and digital transformation. The role draws on deep expertise in controls engineering, industrial connectivity, and manufacturing systems integration to solve complex technical challenges, develop reusable engineering solutions, and influence standards and best practices that improve performance, reliability, and business outcomes across multiple facilities.

The position 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 enterprise analytics and performance management. It also develops machine connectivity and automation solutions, improves data reliability for KPIs and analytics, evaluates emerging technologies, leads proofs of concept and pilots, and advances capabilities for future analytics and AI-driven manufacturing initiatives.

The engineer establishes technical standards and governance, provides oversight for manufacturing technology investments, and partners with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators. The role includes expert consultation on significant technical issues and knowledge transfer to support adoption and ongoing operation of implemented solutions.

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 sufficient to perform the essential functions.
• 10+ 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.
• Ability to anticipate future technical and market needs and translate insights into engineering strategies and long-term growth opportunities.
• Ability to evaluate technical feasibility, strategic fit, business potential, risk, and financial return to guide priorities and investments.
• Ability to advance engineering, commercialization, cost reduction, and operational programs to achieve business commitments.
• Ability to navigate complex technical, operational, and organizational challenges and develop practical, scalable solutions.
• Ability to build productive partnerships across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, vendors, and leadership teams.
• Ability to 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 in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0, IIoT, advanced analytics, AI-enabled manufacturing technologies, and digital transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement manufacturing automation, connectivity, and Intelligent Factory solutions that improve operational performance, manufacturing visibility, and business outcomes.
• Resolve 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, operational visibility, and data-driven decisions.
• 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 measurable business value and support Intelligent Factory strategy.
• Lead technical proofs of concept and pilot initiatives, validate technologies, and establish approaches for scalable deployment.
• Advance controls, sensing, and connectivity capabilities for future manufacturing intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI-driven initiatives.
• Establish and promote standards, best practices, and technical frameworks that improve consistency, maintainability, and supportability across facilities.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance for manufacturing technology investments, ensuring alignment with architectural, operational, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Capture and apply organizational learning to improve future implementations and engineering practices.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators to deliver solutions meeting business and operational objectives.
• Provide expert consultation on complex technical challenges and drive resolution of issues with significant operational impact.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and technical capability development for successful adoption and long-term support of implemented solutions.

Benefits

• 25% annual incentive eligibility, 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