Electrical & Automation Manager

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.

About the role

The Electrical & Controls Manager is responsible for leading plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role combines people leadership, hands-on troubleshooting, automation strategy, capital project execution, and continuous improvement ownership across processing, packaging, utilities, and facility support systems. The manager leads a technical team while partnering closely with operations, maintenance, quality, IT/OT, engineering, and external integrators to improve equipment reliability, modernize legacy control systems, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, and OEE.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, develop, and manage the electrical and controls team through clear expectations, scheduling, training, performance management, and accountability for execution.
• Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems across Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes.
• Occasional regional travel as needed to support other facilities.
• Provide direct technical leadership for advanced troubleshooting of electrical, automation, networking, and controls-related failures using schematics, software tools, and field diagnostics.
• Drive control system lifecycle management, including migration plans for obsolete PLC, HMI, network, and drive platforms.
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment, as well as controls upgrades for existing lines, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.
• Support plant electrical infrastructure and low-voltage control systems, including troubleshooting, design review, documentation updates, and expansion planning.
• Support plant data and digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL-connected systems, reporting tools, and machine-level integration projects.
• Use CMMS data, downtime trends, and failure history to prioritize reliability actions and capital improvements.
• Provide on-call or escalated support for critical production issues, shutdowns, startups, and major project activities as required.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements, arc flash expectations, LOTO practices, and machine safety standards; escalate material risks to plant leadership.
• Manage approved controls contractors, system integrators, and vendors to ensure work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to plant standards.

Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and external vendors or contractors.
• Proven experience managing multiple priorities including production support, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and emergency plant support.
• Experience supporting high-speed manufacturing, packaging, or processing operations within food, beverage, CPG, or related industrial environments preferred.
• Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement principles.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety standards and safe work practices including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and machine safety systems.
• Support capital planning, budgeting, and project justification activities related to controls, electrical infrastructure, reliability improvements, and automation modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, or plant modernization initiatives preferred.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment built on communication, accountability, engagement, and mutual respect.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical development skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage electrical & controls budget.
• Proactive leader who demonstrates ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset across plant operations and team performance.
• Self-directed leader capable of balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational support when required.
• Ability to support off-shift, weekend, and emergency operational needs in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

PLC & Control Systems

• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, and legacy SLC5 systems
• Siemens S7/TIA Portal platforms
• Exposure to B&R automation systems preferred
• Ability to troubleshoot, modify, and support PLC logic, I/O architecture, and integrated machine controls

Industrial Networks & Communications

• Ethernet/IP
• Profinet
• DeviceNet
• ControlNet
• Remote I/O systems
• OPC communications preferred
• Understanding of managed industrial switches, routers, wireless infrastructure, and plant network architecture

HMI / SCADA Systems

• Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View ME & SE
• Siemens HMI platforms
• Wonderware / AVEVA platforms
• SCADA, Historian, MES, and data collection systems
• Knowledge of visualization, alarming, trending, and operational reporting systems

Drives & Motion Control

• Allen-Bradley PowerFlex series drives
• SEW Eurodrive systems
• B&R motion and drive platforms
• Emerson and Yaskawa drives
• VFDs
• Servo systems
• Motion control applications
• Motor control centers (MCCs)
• Soft starters and motor protection systems

Electrical & Instrumentation

• Electrical control panels
• Relay logic
• Safety circuits
• Instrumentation systems
• 24VAC / 24VDC / 4–20mA control systems
• Level, pressure, flow, temperature, position and distance measurement devices

Software & Digital Systems

• SQL databases
• Historian systems
• MES platforms
• Data integration systems
• Exposure to: JSON, APIs, Web services
• Industrial data platforms
• Industry 4.0 technologies preferred

Engineering & Design Tools

• Electrical schematics
• Panel layouts
• P&IDs
• Mechanical drawings
• AutoCAD
• AutoCAD Electrical
• Visio
• Electrical design documentation

Education & Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent combination of technical education and relevant industrial experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5–10 years of experience supporting industrial manufacturing systems in a production environment.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience in manufacturing, maintenance, automation, or controls preferred.
• Food & Beverage manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.

Pay

$110,000.00 - $140,000.00. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Benefits

• Access to top-notch medical coverage, comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility.
• 24/7 online physician consultations, virtual mental health resources, life coaching, engaging employee community groups, cash rewards for healthy habits, and fitness reimbursements.
• Library of on-demand fitness videos.
• Clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across diverse family of brands and business units.
• Focused Learning and Development with dedicated department offering People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
• Company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive career forward.
• Continuous Improvement Training to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.
• Company-provided funds to allocate to up to three charities of your choice through Wonderful Giving.
• Opportunities to join group service projects within local communities through Wonderful Neighbor.