Automation Engineer, Manufacturing

Come join our table!
At Idahoan Foods, we bring people and families together by providing high quality, convenient food that delights and nourishes lives. As a top 20 household penetration CPG brand, when you join our table, you’re joining a team that aims high and values collaboration, continuous improvement, sustainable sourcing and innovation, active engagement in the community, and doing the right thing. We understand that it’s our team members that serve as the foundation of our ambitious future and we’re committed to knowing you, growing you, and celebrating you.
Job purpose
The primary responsibility of the Automation Engineer (AE) is developing, managing, and maintaining the process control systems and networks at all Idahoan Foods Facilities. The AE will create company standards for process control systems and related equipment throughout the company. The AE will work with corporate engineering, IT, plant maintenance, and other stakeholders to ensure control systems, devices, and networks will meet internal and external expectations for functionality and security and work with the plant management teams to troubleshoot and maintain existing control systems, networks and devices. The AE will work in concert with corporate IT professionals to maintain control system standards set by the company.
Main Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain OT network standards for use at all Idahoan processing plants including developing and maintaining PLC, Human Machine Interface (HMI) programming standards. Follow change management to ensure compliance with best practices
• Monitor, maintain, and upgrade process network and servers
• Keep software and firmware updated on servers and assist with OT devices
• Work with Security Engineer to create and implement remediation plans for known vulnerabilities and effectively react to any securities breaches.
• Install hardware for the process network into our facilities, includes following our structured cabling and documentation standards
• Maintain process network architecture documentation including logical network diagrams, test plans, configurations, and security standards
• Maintaining software licensing and support contracts for process controls software
• Implement and maintain disaster recovery solutions for process networks
• On-call for process network issues, ability to troubleshoot network and system issues
• Administration and maintenance of the monitoring and management systems: update scripts, respond to alerts, monitor dashboard, and periodic system review. Ensure that all plants remain synchronized with control system software updates and patches
• Maintain documentation for all process computer systems and network infrastructure
• Perform hardware and software inventory, maintain licensing standards
• Communication with plants and end users as required: keeping them informed of incident progress, notifying them of impending changes or maintenance windows and outages
• Maintain and develop monitoring systems, tools, and procedures
• Coordinate with and supervise outside contractors
• Direct, or participate in, equipment start-ups, commissioning, operation, and network maintenance
• Develop equipment obsolescence planning
• Implementing and utilization of application software.
• Develop HMI graphical object and screen standards for use at all processing facilities.
• Process control project support
• Have a working knowledge of instrumentation and calibration equipment
• Communication with customers as required: keeping them informed of incident progress, notifying them of impending changes or maintenance windows and outages
• Follows and enforces all GMP, safety, and plant rules

Qualifications/Required Skills

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (B.S.) from four-year college or university. Master’s degree is highly desirable, but not required. Five years or more of experience with PLC programming in food manufacturing using networked PLC’s is preferred.
• Be competent in instrumentation for installation and innovation in trialing new technologies.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, comprehend, and compose instructions, correspondence, and memos. Exhibits effective speaking and written communication skills. Ability to conduct professional and compelling presentations and respond to questions from groups of equipment operators, managers, and senior executives within the Company. Effectively organizes and facilitates meetings.
• Reasoning Ability: Possesses strong analytical, quantitative, communication, problem solving, and technical skills. It can creatively apply experience, common sense, and a strategic and economical business perspective to a variety of situations, processes, and people. Demonstrates the self-confidence and maturity to make decisions and solve problems with minimal direction. Organized and able to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.
• Interpersonal Skills: Team player, flexible and accepts changing assignments and accountabilities.

Other Details

• Work Environment: The work environment is a traditional office with approximately 10-15% travel involved. Individual must be capable of carrying up to 50 lbs. while traveling. Must be flexible to occasionally work overtime during the week, weekends, and holidays. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Alignment with Core Values of the Company

• Respect & Value Our People
• Stay in Front of Challenge While Reducing Costs
• Delight Our Customers
• Food Quality & Safety

Equal Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.