Controls Engineer

About the role

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement standard electrical and automation engineering practices.
• Manage automation improvement projects.
• PLC logic programming.
• Design, configure, integrate, and implement process control solutions for various manufacturing specifications.
• Develop control system validation/testing protocols.
• Familiar with TCP/IP, Modbus, and Devicenet communication protocols.
• Experience with controls and calibration utilizing best practices per relevant IEEE and IEC standards.
• Practical experience integrating transducers of types such as pressure, temperature, conductivity, PH, and flow with automated systems.
• Experience with developing and modifying Add on instructions for PLC logic.
• PID tuning and applications.
• Responsible for 3rd party calibration of transducers per company guidelines on frequency.
• Provides reliability engineering expertise that supports our maintenance and reliability efforts and assures asset life at or beyond the standards.
• Integrating VFD’s with PLCs in automated processes, to include acceleration deceleration tuning, and HMI screens for operator interface.
• Responsible for Factory Acceptance Testing, and Provisional Acceptance Testing approval for newly installed 3rd party equipment to ensure fulfillment of contract specifications, provide integration support with existing equipment, as necessary.
• Collaborates with cross-functional groups including Production, Human Resources, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Finance to meet production targets.
• Develops, recommends, and implements measures to improve machines and plant equipment to maximize efficiency.
• Lead, coach, and manage the performance of the maintenance Instrument Control Technician team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Train operators, managers, and IC Technicians on control systems.
• Oversees installation, modifications, quality control testing, operating procedure, and inspection processes adhering to engineering principles and safety regulations.
• Serves as a safety model, promoting a high level of safety awareness and continuous improvement in safety practices.
• Ensures effective employee relations. Provides employee coaching and development. Resolves employee issues through problem resolution.
• Responsible for Food safety and quality of food. Demonstrates a commitment to Quality.
• Facilitates coordination between maintenance and operations in solving process issues.
• Adheres to company GMP’s (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
• Continuously improve process control systems through Advanced Process Control, Alarm Management, and Operator Interface Optimization.
• Create, edit, and document batch systems recipes.
• Serve as a resource and a technical expert for the plant in all disciplines of automation controls for line, utility support, and process equipment.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Industrial Controls, Electronics, Engineering, Technology or related disciplines or training on Allen Bradley machine controls (PLC’s/VFD’s).
• Certification or training on Plant Electrical Systems.
• 5-7 years of applied industrial controls experience using Allen Bradley control platforms (SLC500, ControlLogix, MicroLogix, PanelView Plus, RS Logix, RS View), Motor Control experience with Servo and VFD devices.
• Aseptic and/or high-speed beverage maintenance experience.
• Successful commissioning and startup automation experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified required.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the National Electric Code (NEC) and international standards.
• Proficiency designing and programming control systems with emphasis on PLCs, SCADA, or HMI systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot control systems from the field element up through operator interfaces and databases.
• Proficiency with control system networking technologies and PC networking technologies.
• Proficiency working with SQL Server, Oracle, or other relational databases.
• Familiarity with dairy productions processes, Clean In Place (CIP).
• TMP or LEAN manufacturing experience.
• Familiarity with instrumentation (flow meters, level transmitters, RTDs/temperature transmitters, level probes, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Specific knowledge of GMP’s and batch process control in the food science industry with validation experience.
• Skilled in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Working knowledge of RSLogix 500,5000, and Studio 5000 Factory Talk view, and Studio.
• Basic network skills and troubleshooting.
• Must have a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software.
• Prefer a candidate with SQF practical experience and training.
• Demonstrated results of solving complex technical issues.

Additional Considerations

• Travel Requirements: Up to 10%.

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance