Manager – Automation Engineering

Short Intro and About the Job

We are seeking an accomplished automation engineering professional with hands-on experience in design, implementation, management, and continuous improvement of automation and control systems.

Job Summary

The Automation Engineering Manager will lead the development, implementation, standardization, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement of automation and control systems across multiple manufacturing facilities. This role will collaborate with plant and corporate stakeholders to improve operational efficiency, product quality, food safety, cybersecurity, and system reliability. The position will also provide technical leadership for digital manufacturing initiatives, industrial networks, and automation projects

 Job Responsibilities

• Support current and future manufacturing processes by collaborating with business stakeholders to design and implement automation and control systems that improve operational efficiency, product quality, and food safety.
• Develop preliminary design concepts and presentations to support project evaluation, capital planning, and approval.
• Manage the lifecycle of automation hardware, software, and supporting infrastructure.
• Facilitate the evaluation and deployment of artificial intelligence tools that support digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership for industrial applications, automation platforms, and networking technologies.
• Implement and enforce global and regional cybersecurity policies and standards for industrial automation and Operational Technology systems.
• Collaborate with global and regional automation teams to develop, maintain, and implement automation standards across manufacturing facilities.
• Serve as a liaison between Corporate Automation and IT to coordinate server, network switch, infrastructure, and technical support requirements.
• Assess and document existing automation and control systems; identify improvement opportunities; develop future-state solutions using appropriate technologies; and implement sustainable improvements that meet customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.

• Develop and maintain plant automation, industrial network, and server architectures, including configuration, communication, and cabling standardsReview automation and controls documentation, including electrical drawings, functional analyses, HMI designs, and control programs, to ensure compliance with Danone North America’s automation standards.
• Manage service contracts and coordinate application support for industrial automation platforms, including Rockwell Automation, Wonderware, Ignition, Kepware, ThinManager, Aspen InfoPlus.21, and Clarinet.
• Organize, lead, and delegate work across multiple concurrent projects of varying complexity, locations, and contractor teams, strategically utilizing contracted resources to ensure project scope, schedule, budget, and operational objectives are achieved.

• Collaborate with plant and corporate stakeholders, including Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Technical Services, R&D, IT, Legal, suppliers, and contractors, to gather input and support the successful implementation and continuous improvement of Automation and control Systems.

• Develop Request for Proposal (RFP) and User Requirements Specification (URS) documentation for industrial automation projects.

• Ensure automation and control systems meet minimum performance and safety requirements, deliver consistent and repeatable results, and maintain compatibility with other standard-compliant equipment and systems.

• Develop internal automation policies, procedures, technical documentation, and training programs for existing and new automation and control systems across the organization.

• Support Danone North America’s initiatives and organizational goals as assigned.

• Travel of up to 35% is required based on project scope and schedule. Weekend and holiday travel may occasionally be required to support project needs.
• Facilitate automation and control system feasibility studies and plant operational-impact assessments, including the development of design concepts, information-flow diagrams, and capital estimates.
• Develop Automation and Controls Systems documentation including functional descriptions, equipment specifications, standards, and best practices.  
• Analyze, compare, and recommend Automation and Control Systems engineering proposals. 

The salary range for this position is $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone USA additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

About You

Required Job skills and qualifications

• Strong knowledge of automation electrical design, electrical controls, and computerized industrial control systems.
• Experience with one or more of the following distributed SCADA systems
  • Inductive Automation’s Ignition Platform
  • Factory Talk View SE
  • Wonderware System platform
• Experience working with MSSQL or MySQL or other relational or time series databases.
• Experience designing and supporting plant-wide industrial automation networks and communication protocols, including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, IO-Link, AS-i, and DeviceNet.
• Experience programming Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLCs using Studio 5000. Experience with Ladder Diagram, Function Block Diagram and Sequential Function Chart
• Experience and working knowledge of historical data management and reporting software
  • Ignition Historian or Factory Talk Historian or Wonderware Historian
• Experience using AutoCAD.
• Must be highly self-directed and able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to establish priorities across multiple concurrent assignments.
• Excellent written, presentation, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated adaptability, openness to new ideas, and willingness to learn emerging industrial automation and Operational Technology solutions.
• Demonstrated project management experience in placing new Automation and Control Systems equipment and processes into operation is required.
• Must be able to effectively communicate complex technical information to Operations, including the reporting of historical events / trends to support root cause analysis and continuous improvement.
• Must demonstrate effective decision-making skills, working effectively under pressure and possessing the integrity to make the right decisions. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Automation and control systems engineering experience in food, beverage, dairy, plant-based beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and sanitary design standards, including PMO, 3-A, and FDA requirements.
• Experience planning and implementing Manufacturing Execution System (MES) reporting in accordance with the ISA-95 system model.
• Experience programming Siemens programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
• Experience with formal Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Experience integrating SAP enterprise resource planning systems with PLC environments to support materials and production planning, product traceability, and process optimization
• Experience in Structured Text programming.
• Inductive Automation Ignition Gold Certification.

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline from an accredited college or university; electrical engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, or computer science is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of automation and control systems engineering and project management experience, preferably in CPG, food, beverage, dairy, plant-based beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Experience with installation, commissioning, supervision, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Automation and control systems.

About Us, We offer and What's next

Life at DanoneWith approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves “Proud Danoners.” Learn more about Life at DanoneOur BrandsWhen you join us, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®.Our PurposeWe’re committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we’re proud to be the world’s largest B Corp.Learn more about our mission.Our BenefitsOur commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees. 

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits – which include medical, dental and vision – with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.  
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.Equal Opportunity EmployerDanone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.#LI-NORAM

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