Product Owner, Dairy Foods Plant Automation

Land O'Lakes • Arden Hills, MN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic and visionary Product Owner to lead the Dairy Foods Plant Automation team, responsible for delivering integrated technology solutions across Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) domains. This role plays a critical part in shaping and delivering on the Digital Manufacturing roadmap for Dairy manufacturing operations, driving innovation, efficiency, and operational reliability across the network. The Product Owner will be responsible for managing and developing a team of engineers focused on the design, development and implementation of digital manufacturing systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing automation, digital engineering, or related disciplines.
• Proven leadership experience managing technical teams.
• Deep understanding of OT systems (PLC, SCADA, MES) and IT infrastructure (networks, cloud, cybersecurity).
• Strong strategic thinking, product management, and change leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time to be onsite at Dairy Manufacturing facilities

Nice To Haves

• Experience with intelligent manufacturing systems that leverage data, analytics and AI.
• Certifications in Agile Methodology (SCRUM), PMP, Six Sigma, or relevant automation platforms.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop a high-performing team of automation and digital engineers that span OT and IT disciplines.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Strategic Planning & Execution Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, and Technology to establish a strategic digital roadmap for Dairy manufacturing that aligns with enterprise goals and plant-level needs.
• Apply an agile mindset to digital manufacturing initiatives, balancing speed, quality and value delivery.
• Leverage internal and external partnerships to oversee design, deployment, and lifecycle management of digital manufacturing systems (automation, SCADA, IIoT platforms, and other plant floor technology solutions).
• Ensure robust cybersecurity, data integrity, and compliance across OT/IT domains.
• Champion the use of data and analytics to improve plant reliability and optimize production processes.

What This Job Offers

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