Lead Engineer, Controls

Controls Engineer Leader

A manufacturing company in Mccalla, AL is hiring a Controls Leader to provide key leadership over power and control systems, equipment specification and maintenance, and technician development in support of plant reliability targets. This role owns systems optimization, compliance, personnel safety, and technician skill development related to plant electrical power and process control systems, and manages a team of Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) technicians.

Full time, on site in Mccalla, AL. Willingness to work off shifts or weekends as needed, including off shift support calls.

$110,000 to $130,000 annually.

What You'll Do

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, providing input to the Engineering Projects Manager on power and control standards and ensuring their application across all projects and upgrades. The Controls Leader leads execution of the site masterplan for power and controls systems, including understanding the installed equipment base and developing replacement plans for obsolete technologies. This position builds and maintains a sustainable skill development system for 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. Additional responsibilities include validating MES data from PLCs and supporting Process Engineers in conditioning PLC data for effective analysis and application development, supporting the design and implementation of machine control and process automation applications such as control strategies, HMI design, MES applications, and KPI development, and working with engineering and operations to identify and eliminate losses in safety, quality, reliability, and cost. The Controls Leader owns 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), works closely with engineering and operations leaders on selection and installation of new equipment while becoming the technical expert and training others on it, and provides power and controls engineering support on capital initiatives as well as general plant support on a daily basis. The role also involves learning and applying control, simulation, and process modeling technologies to improve process and packaging operations.

Required Qualifications

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

$110,000 to $130,000 annually

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Paid time off

To apply, submit your resume for consideration.