Lead Controls Engineer - Food Manufacturing

Mccalla, AL | Full time, on site

About the role

This role serves as a primary administrator and troubleshooter for plant power and control systems and acts as a key member of plant technical leadership. The Controls Leader provides input to the Engineering Projects Manager on power and control standards, ensures their application across all projects and upgrades, and leads execution of the site masterplan for power and controls systems. This includes understanding the installed equipment base and developing replacement plans for obsolete technologies.

The position builds and maintains a sustainable skill development system for Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) technicians, coaching them on skill assessment and departmental development while managing daily direction setting for the team. The role ensures technician compliance with local and national regulatory codes including NFPA 70, NFPA 70e, NFPA 79, and OSHA 1910, and is responsible for equipment and safe practice compliance within their area.

Responsibilities

• Validate MES data from PLCs and support Process Engineers in conditioning PLC data for effective analysis and application development.
• Support the design and implementation of machine control and process automation applications such as control strategies, HMI design, MES applications, and KPI development.
• Work with engineering and operations to identify and eliminate losses in safety, quality, reliability, and cost.
• Own key elements related to electrical safety (LOTO, electrical PPE, energized work permits, low voltage qualification) and quality and CCP compliance (checkweighers, metal detectors, vision systems, ingredient flows, temperatures).
• Work closely with engineering and operations leaders on selection and installation of new equipment while becoming the technical expert and training others on it.
• Provide power and controls engineering support on capital initiatives as well as general plant support on a daily basis.
• Learn and apply control, simulation, and process modeling technologies to improve process and packaging operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 5 or more years of relevant controls experience
• Strong knowledge of machine and process control hardware, instrumentation, and software, including Allen Bradley PLC and Rockwell FactoryTalk platforms
• Working knowledge of NFPA and OSHA guidelines related to electrical equipment and practices
• Experience leading, teaching, or managing others effectively
• Willingness to work off shifts or weekends as needed, including off shift support calls
• Some travel required
• Ability to perform moderate physical activity, including significant time on the manufacturing floor and some hands-on work with equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• Electrical Engineering degree
• Manufacturing experience, particularly mechanical and electrical experience in food manufacturing
• Proficiency in plant historian software
• Experience learning and integrating new technologies
• Experience leading equipment installation in a food manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated results in manufacturing maintenance utilizing maintenance systems
• Experience with plant systems software

Pay

$110,000 to $130,000 annually

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Paid time off