Controls System Specialist

PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH; Coventry; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global food and beverage company is seeking a technical lead to manage site control systems and infrastructures. The role requires strong electrical knowledge and at least 3 years of experience in PLC programming. You will drive technical improvements, ensuring system compliance and integrity while supporting production teams. The ideal candidate will have skills in SCADA systems and a commitment to enhancing operational efficiency.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Flexible working

Wide range of benefits

Qualifications

• Strong fundamental knowledge of electrical systems.
• At least 3 years experience in programming PLCs.
• Good knowledge of process and packaging technology.

Responsibilities

• Managing site control system infrastructure.
• Developing technical requirements for maintaining production.
• Ensuring availability and integrity of PLC and SCADA systems.

Skills

Fault-finding skills

Analytical abilities

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Relevant electrical qualifications

Tools

PLC programming

SCADA systems

SAP

Job description

Overview

At PepsiCo UK, we’re proud to make some of the nation’s favourite snacks and drinks—like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch. With sites across the UK, including our Quaker mill in Cupar and Doritos factory in Coventry, we’re also home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories in Leicester. At the end of 2025 we will move our UK office to a vibrant new Reading town centre location, just minutes from Reading train station.

Why Join Us?

We offer a competitive salary, bonus, car allowance, flexible working, and a wide range of benefits—from critical illness cover and discounted gym memberships to enhanced parental leave and electric car schemes. Our commitment to wellbeing and career growth makes us a Top Employer for 14 years running.

You will be leading the site requirements and procedures to maintain and develop the site’s SCADA, PLC and advanced control systems and infrastructures. You will be driving initiatives in improving the plant control systems and provide technical leadership for the Site technician group, ensuring all documentation, backup and emergency procedures are in place and regularly updated in line with Global CSS requirements. Managing control system integrators through capital projects design, build and execute phases to ensure that any projects are implemented in line with the Pepsico Standards.

Responsibilities

• Managing the site-based control system infrastructure and asset base to global PepsiCo controls standards, being “site strong link in cyber security.”
• Developing technical requirements for the Shift Technician population to maintain 24/7 production and improving capability for engineering team leaders and shift techs on all aspects of computer control systems.
• Maintaining the site PLC and SCADA systems, ensuring availability, data integrity, compliance with business standards and audits, and supporting front‑line teams on technical breakdowns.
• Being accountable for all network drawings and ensuring they are up to date, as well as ensuring system backups, recovery procedures, and system risk assessments are in place, updated, and aligned with CSS standards.
• Managing and implementing support contracts, system upgrades, software changes, and Rockwell hardware management programme to maintain system value, concurrency, and spare parts coverage for all critical assets.
• Managing PLC/systems obsolescence risks and building proposals into the annual obsolescence PSP programme, and developing the software budget AOP for site including licenses.
• Developing URS technical documentation for capex projects requiring CSS interfaces and project managing delivery of control system projects through system integrators.
• Leading SAT/FAT on control system upgrades and new equipment.
• Identifying opportunities for improved control and production information, generating action plans and benefits.
• Acting as point of contact for site‑based IT support (e.g., Wi‑Fi upgrades).
• Being accountable for the successful build and delivery of the site software budget.

Qualifications

• Fully authorized and knowledgeable on electrical equipment and systems through qualifications and experience, with strong fundamental knowledge of electrical systems.
• Excellent fault‑finding skills, strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, and ability to prioritise workload based on site impact.
• At least 3 years’ experience in programming PLCs and microprocessor‑based control equipment for major projects, with good working knowledge of SCADA systems, PC programmes, networks, and Wonderware systems.
• Good knowledge of Safety PLC systems and applications, and able to demonstrate skills in high‑level language programming.
• Good knowledge of process and packaging technology.
• CMMS literacy essential (experience of SAP preferred).
• Excellent communication and decision‑making skills, able to work as a team member with management and front‑line groups.
• Able to train control system specialists and shift technicians in fault analysis, root‑cause failure analysis, rectification, and higher‑level systems fault recovery.
• Demonstrates a genuine appetite to lead activities to improve asset reliability.

A Space to be You

We celebrate individuality and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. Our Employee Resource Groups help embed inclusion into our culture, ensuring everyone feels valued and heard.

Equal Opportunities

We’re an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide any necessary adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi‑Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end‑to‑end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.