What are the responsibilities and job description for the Regional Controls and Automation Engineer position at SunOpta?
About SunOpta
SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.
Job Summary:
The Controls Engineering Manager leads a team of five or more Controls Engineers responsible for the design, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing automation and controls systems. This role bridges the disciplines of Process Control, Information Technology and Enterprise Architecture, focusing on the integration, optimization, and oversight of automated systems across manufacturing and operational environments.
This role ensures operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement in plant automation, supporting enterprise-wide initiatives and capital projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Team Development
- Direct, coach, and mentor a team of Controls Engineers.
- Oversee performance management, training, and professional development.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with SunOpta's values.
- Project & Operations Management
- Plan, prioritize and manage automation improvement projects and capital installations
- Ensure timely execution of controls systems design, programming, simulation, testing, and start-up
- Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing and Provisional Acceptance Testing for new equipment
- Technical Oversight
- Set standards for electrical and automation engineering practices.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of control systems, including PLCs, DCS, HMIs, and SCADA networks.
- Guide the development and validation of control system protocols.
- Ensure compliance with IEEE, IEC, NEC, and company standards.
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- Serve as the plant's subject matter expert on IT/OT convergence, ensuring alignment between control networks and corporate IT infrastructure.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Production, Information Technology, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Finance to meet operational targets.
- Facilitate coordination between maintenance and operations to resolve process issues.
- Collaborate with IT teams to implement secure connectivity solutions, network segmentation, and cybersecurity practices in the control environment.
- Support the integration of control data systems to Enterprise applications to enable real-time visibility and decision-making.
- Continuous Improvement & Reliability
- Drive continuous improvement in process control systems, including Advanced Process Control, Alarm Management, and Operator Interface Optimization.
- Drive digital transformation initiatives at the plant level, including advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and industrial IoT applications.
- Lead initiatives to maximize equipment efficiency, reliability, and asset life.
- Safety & Compliance
- Promote a culture of safety and ensure adherence to GMPs, food safety, and quality standards.
- Serve as a safety role model and champion continuous improvement in safety practices.
- Stakeholder Communication
- Communicate project status, technical issues, and improvement opportunities to senior leadership.
- Represent the controls engineering function in cross-functional meetings and audits.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Controls, Electronics, Engineering, or related discipline or equivalent experience.
- 7 years of experience in industrial controls, including leadership of engineering teams.
- Demonstrated expertise with Allen Bradley control platforms (SLC500, ControlLogix, MicroLogix, PanelView Plus, RS Logix, RS View), Servo and VFD devices.
- Experience in aseptic and/or high-speed beverage manufacturing environments.
- Successful track record in commissioning and startup automation projects.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Industrial Controls, Electronics, Engineering, or related discipline.
- Advanced knowledge of NEC and international standards.
- Proficiency in designing and programming control systems (PLCs, SCADA, HMI).
- Experience with SQL Server, Oracle, or other relational databases.
- Familiarity with thermal pasteurization and sterilization production processes and Clean In Place (CIP).
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing and reliability engineering.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- SQF practical experience and training.
Additional Considerations:
- Travel: Sustaining 25%, up to 50% during critical project demands.
- This job description is not exhaustive and may be revised as needed.
Featured benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Paid Family leave
- Paid maternity leave
- 401(k) with Match
- Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
- Paid Holidays
- Tuition assistance
- Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED
The Employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Employer does not discriminate in employment and no question on this application is used for the purpose of limiting or excusing any applicant's consideration for employment on a basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.