Controls Engineer

JOB TITLE: Controls Engineer

DEPARTMENT: Engineering

REPORTS TO: Director of Engineering

LOCATION: San Antonio, TX

PAY: $130,000.00

HOURS / SHIFT: Dayshift – 1 st Shift

Benefits & Perks

Finlays Solutions is committed to supporting the career advancement and wellbeing of our employees. We offer a range of comprehensive benefits, including a wellness program, learning and development allowance, and opportunities for mentorship and job shadowing, designed to support both personal and professional growth. We encourage continuous learning, collaboration, and the exploration of new skills and career pathways, helping you build a global network and thrive within an inclusive, supportive environment in our organization.

Other Employee Benefits Include

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Company Matching
• Eligibility for Monthly / Annual Bonuses
• Paid Time Off (PTO) plus 10 Paid Holidays and Paid Volunteer Days Off
• Volunteer / Community Involvement
  
  

Description

James Finlay operates manufacturing sites worldwide (USA, UK, China, Kenya, Sri Lanka & Argentina). The primary role will be within the USA; however, there may be international co-operation with other Finlays’ sites around the world to help develop a consistent approach to Engineering Standards.

Finlays Solutions is embarking on an ambitious growth plan to expand production to meet the requirements of our customer base. This expansion requires highly automated process and packaging equipment to provide a lean and productive operation.

The new role will involve working as the subject matter expert within project teams, to ensure Finlays’ automation and electrical requirements are met by our equipment suppliers, and that they seamlessly integrate with existing or future planned systems.

The purpose of this role will be to lead the development, management, and continuous improvement of Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control systems within Finlays’ USA sites, and will therefore require travel within the USA to support our sites. There is also a requirement to help develop and manage automation and electrical standards for the USA and possibly beyond.

The role will be located in Lincoln, RI and will primarily support the two RI manufacturing sites, however, may support other JFA sites and therefore require travel within the USA. There is also a requirement to help develop and manage process and food safety standards for JFA and possibly beyond.

About Us

Since 1750, Finlays Solutions has been the trusted leader in supplying tea, coffee, and botanical extracts to the world’s leading beverage brands. Focused on delivering exceptional beverage solutions, we empower our customers to create moments of joy with every sip. Our team is built on values of acting for the long-term, taking accountability, doing better each time, and succeeding together. When you join us, you're not just taking on a job; you're becoming part of a customer-centric culture driven by collaboration, expertise, and innovation. If you're looking for a place to grow, share your ideas, and make an impact, we’d love to have you on our team.

Responsibilities

• The role will make a major contribution to Finlay’s business success by using Controls Engineering skills to find practical solutions for problems and opportunities which arise within Finlays business. The successful candidate should be able to operate within a multidisciplinary and multi-functional work environment and demonstrate their skills and commitment to teamwork and project disciplines.
• The role will evaluate key processes, packaging, technologies, and equipment using good engineering principles and use this knowledge to develop improvements. This will include:
• Review and improvement of current extraction, blending and CIP processes
• Review of current and new packaging processes
• The development and management of projects from conception through to capital investment proposals, approvals and implementations.
• Evaluation of the cost benefit and development of business cases in collaboration with financial business partners and business unit stakeholders.
• Ensuring the highest standards of process & occupational safety and sanitary design are incorporated in their work.
• Manage the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control Assets to ensure that they function to their designed capacity, functionality, and are periodically refurbished to their original condition to ensure optimal life, safe operations, reliability, and availability.
• Drive compliance to Health & Safety systems, policies, reporting & procedures within the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control function.
• Ensure strict adherence to the relevant engineering standards and specifications.
• Periodically audit the asset and documentation to obtain maximum standardization of spares and new factory installations on the site.
• Ensure that Critical spares are identified and carried as stock, keeping track of stocking costs and ensuring working capital is minimized.
• Define equipment criticality using a risk matrix.
• Define and manage the overall Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control maintenance strategy for the factories.
• Develop the capability of the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control maintenance strategy for our factories.
• Ensure adequate change control and documentation is in place. Including drawing and equipment records.
• Ensure that a medium-to-long-term program is in place to mitigate risks associated with ageing infrastructure and equipment redundancy.
  
  

Key Responsibilities - Projects

• Manage supplier and contractor performances to achieve key performance objectives in particular health and safety.
• Provide input and advice where needed into the development of process control, instrumentation, Electrical, and automation across Finlay’s business units.
• Be prepared to work with Group Manufacturing & Engineering Team, develop and maintain a Finlays Process Control, Instrumentation and Automation Standard. This to Include relevant Health and Safety standards.
• As part of any major project team, lead the specification, design, and development of new “fit for purpose” process instrumentation, controls, and automation systems for relevant projects. This will require working with external design engineers and Finlay’s teams of project managers, purchasing managers and other internal customers to ensure cost and time constraints are achieved on relevant projects.
• Support and advise on the management of relevant suppliers, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide ad Hoc trouble shooting service of existing controls systems when required.
• Support the implementation of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) best practices.
• Ensure proper management of and compliance by contractors, within the Unit, through fair allocation of work, proper documentation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Drive total compliance to Health & Safety systems, policies, reporting & procedures within the Technical Department area and throughout the team having signed the HEALTH AND SAFETY responsibility form as proof of your full understanding and commitment to your Health and Safety responsibilities.
• Support, Implement and adhere to all food safety and Quality managements system’s requirements.
  
  

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Engineering discipline related to process control and automation.
• Ability to work in five IEC-1131 program languages (instruction list, structured text, ladder diagram, function block diagram, and sequential function chart)
• Working experience with Siemens platforms and Allen Bradley platforms (PLC & DCS)
• Good understanding of food manufacturing processes, GMP processes and quality management.
• Ability to manage and develop continuous process control systems in a continuous production environment such as refining (Petrochem, sugar, food oils/fats, paper etc).
• Knowledge of DCS and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of asset management, including preventative maintenance, is desirable.
• Knowledge of EHS management is essential.
• In-depth understanding of problem-solving tools e.g. RCA, FTA, A3 etc.
• Hands on Experienced in safe design, specification, operation, maintenance and capital work with processes, instrumentation, plc automation with SCADA and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) that are commonly found on continuous process sites. Proven ability to manage and develop process control systems in a continuous production environment such as refining (Petro chem, sugar, food oils/fats, paper etc
• Strong leadership, influencing and advocacy skills.
• Ability to influence from a distance and without the benefit of direct line management authority.
• Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written (e.g., written reports, presentations etc.). Fluency in English is essential, foreign language capability is desirable.
• Ability to adapt to diverse cultures.
• Root Cause Analysis and problem solving
• Proven skills in working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Performance management & coaching of others.
• MS Office Suite
• AutoCAD
• MS Project
  
  

Work Environment

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Primary location: Lincoln, RI manufacturing facility
• Factory/manufacturing environment requiring hands-on support
• Travel required within the USA to support multiple JFA sites (San Antonio, Rhode Island, Chicago)
• Possible international cooperation with Finlays' sites worldwide (UK, China, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Argentina)
• Multi-site role supporting two RI manufacturing sites primarily, with occasional support to other JFA locations
• Work involves both office-based tasks (design, documentation, project management) and on-site factory floor work
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be comfortable working in a factory environment and being "hands-on"
• Ability to travel regularly within the USA
• Physical presence required at manufacturing sites for equipment evaluation, troubleshooting, and project implementation
• Ability to conduct site audits and inspections of automation, instrumentation, electrical, and control systems
  
  

Equal Opportunity Statement

Finlays Solutions is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, perceived disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, as defined by applicable law. Finlays Solutions employs individuals that are 18 years of age or older.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.