Sr. Controls Engineer

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. • York, PA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Controls Engineer provides plant electrical, instrumentation, and controls engineering support for the design, assembly, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning of PLC-based control systems at the York, Pennsylvania manufacturing and distribution facility. The role supports products including A&H Cat Litter and A&H Laundry Detergent, and provides technical and administrative leadership for plant manufacturing and distribution operations.

The position manages automation and controls capital projects, improves equipment controls and production efficiency, supports maintenance and troubleshooting, and leads electrical safety and systems initiatives. It also directly supervises an instrumentation controls specialist and is responsible for staff development, employee relations and administration, training, continuous improvement, and compliance with plant safety, sanitation, and housekeeping practices. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with hours that may vary; off-hours support and flexibility to work various hours and shifts may be needed, particularly during major projects and installations.

Requirements

• 5–8 years of experience.
• Four-year post-secondary degree in a relevant technical field.
• Direct technical experience designing, assembling, integrating, testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning PLC-based control systems.
• Knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), Underwriter Laboratories (UL) standards, Allen-Bradley controls, AC and motor controls, and process sensors.
• Ability to calibrate and test controls, verify instrumentation accuracy and effectiveness, and perform routine maintenance on plant-wide controls systems.
• Ability to interpret, red-line, and prepare control and instrumentation schematics, ladder logic diagrams, wiring schematics, and PIDs/PFDs.
• Ability to prioritize assignments in a fast-paced, dynamic, production-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build positive relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills across multiple media.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Critical-thinking skills and ability to develop innovative approaches with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles, including Six Sigma, 5S, and TPS.
• Strong computer skills, including MS Office Suite, MS Project, CMMS, and SAP.
• Ability to collect and analyze data methodically and make appropriate recommendations.
• Strong knowledge of production operations, including equipment, materials, and workflow.
• Complete all necessary training within the defined introductory period.

Nice To Haves

• 5–7 years of previous engineering experience in a high-volume, multiple-SKU, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• CPG and/or FDA-regulated manufacturing experience.
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and practices, including 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, and continuous improvement.
• Flexibility to work various hours and shifts as needed, especially during large projects and installations.
• Working knowledge of the SAP Maintenance Module and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Promote a safety culture and support plant safety policies and procedures.
• Assist with the design and modification of process control and instrumentation systems.
• Manage automation and controls infrastructure capital projects within defined scope, cost, timing, and expected outcomes.
• Provide plant leadership on technical and administrative matters related to PLCs, microprocessors, and controls.
• Improve packaging and processing equipment controls logic to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Assist with project justification, business recommendations, engineering proposals, and capital planning.
• Lead cross-functional teams in addressing technical challenges and achieving objectives.
• Assist electricians, maintenance mechanics, and line mechanics with controls troubleshooting, improvement initiatives, preventative maintenance, testing, and other maintenance activities.
• Understand business needs, risks, and organizational dynamics and develop alternate plans and choices as appropriate.
• Use knowledge of processing automation to troubleshoot and improve cycle-time throughput.
• Identify and support cost-reduction and efficiency-improvement initiatives.
• Develop and coordinate instrumentation and controls technical training for operations and maintenance personnel.
• Provide plant leadership on electrical safety topics, including NFPA 70E.
• Provide plant leadership on electrical systems and recommend maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
• Directly supervise the instrumentation controls specialist.
• Manage staff cross-training and development to support a flexible workforce.
• Ensure employee time records are accurately and promptly captured and approved.
• Initiate and process clear, consistent, fair, and factual corrective actions.
• Promote positive employee relations and engagement through communication and practices.
• Execute continuous-improvement and Lean opportunities and ensure Lean Daily Management objectives are met.
• Ensure sanitation and good-housekeeping procedures and guidelines are followed.
• Participate in new-hire interviews and selection and provide termination recommendations to the manager and HR Business Partner.
• Support the plant during off-hours as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

What This Job Offers

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