Electrical Controls & Automation Engineer

Job Description

Description:

Committed to our Team, Craft & Community, Since 1910

Join the always-growing Team at Ellsworth Creamery as we work with our cooperative of local farmers to create award-winning cheese!

Job Title: Electrical Controls and Automation Engineer – Cheese Manufacturing

Department: Maintenance

Reports To: Senior Manager of Maintenance, Reliability and Manufacturing Network Strategy

Classification: Exempt

General Description: We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced Electrical Controls and Automation Engineer to support and optimize automation systems within our cheese manufacturing facility. In this role, you will design, program, and maintain electrical control systems to ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality production of dairy and cheese products. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in industrial automation, a strong understanding of food processing equipment, and a passion for continuous improvement in a regulated manufacturing environment. This role will be subject to being on-call.

Key Responsibilities:

Design, program, and maintain PLC and HMI systems used in cheese processing, packaging, and CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems.

Troubleshoot and resolve issues with control systems, instrumentation, sensors, and electrical components across production lines.

Support process automation for pasteurization, curd handling, whey separation, pressing, aging, and packaging.

Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and quality teams to ensure process reliability, efficiency, and compliance with food safety standards.

Update and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and documentation using AutoCAD Electrical or similar tools.

Specify and procure control hardware (PLCs, drives, motors, VFDs, instrumentation, etc.).

Ensure compliance with industry regulations such as FDA, USDA, SQF, and internal GMPs.

Implement preventative and predictive maintenance strategies for control systems.

Lead or support continuous improvement projects focused on automation and process optimization.

Ensuring all work is completed with adherence to physical and food safety standards.

Providing technical support to users of automated systems.

Identifying and implementing solutions for continuous improvement of automation and control processes. Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field.

3+ years of experience in industrial automation, preferably in food or dairy manufacturing.

Proficient in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, or similar).

Experience with HMI/SCADA systems, VFDs, instrumentation, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus).

Familiarity with food manufacturing processes such as pasteurization, fermentation, or CIP.

Strong knowledge of electrical safety standards (NFPA 70E, NEC), and food safety compliance (HACCP, GMP).

Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Experience with dairy-specific equipment (e.g., separators, vats, pasteurizers, fillers).

Familiarity with automation systems for traceability and batch management.

Experience with Manufacturing Execution System or data acquisition systems in a food processing environment.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift objects weighing a minimum of 50 pounds

Must hold a valid Driver’s License

Extensive use of computers

Must be able to pass a drug and alcohol screen as well as background check

Work Environment / Environment Condition:

Working hours will vary depending on need

Multi-Dairy plant environments with multiple levels

Will travel between facilities

Food plant environment. Must adhere to all food and plant safety policies and regulations

All weather conditions, temperatures and wet/dry conditions

Benefits Package:

Full Time employees are eligible for benefits on the 1st of the month, following 30 days of employment.

Medical, Health Savings Account, Dental, Vision, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital insurances available.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other free resources.

401k match, Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay!

ABOUT ELLSWORTH CREAMERY: At Ellsworth Creamery, our team members are more than employees; you are like family and we want you to succeed. This culture has contributed to the longevity of our staff, whose careers at Ellsworth Creamery span 10, 20 and even 50 years! Our Ellsworth, Wisconsin facility specializes solely in the production of our world-famous All Natural White Cheddar Cheese Curds, both natural and flavored, our All Natural Cheddar Cheese Curd Crumbles and sweet whey powder.

Full-time