Automation Engineer | Controls & PLC Specialist

Jobot; Stratford (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobot is a leading food manufacturer seeking an hands-on Automation Engineer to strengthen our controls capabilities, support equipment upgrades, and improve processing and packaging operations in Stratford, CT. You’ll bridge engineering, maintenance, and production, coding PLC/HMI programs and troubleshoots on the plant floor to boost uptime, quality, and throughput.

Join a team focused on safety, sanitation, and continuous improvement, with opportunities to lead equipment modernization and

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; equivalent experience acceptable.
• 3–5+ years in controls or automation for manufacturing.
• Strong AB PLC/HMI programming and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with VFDs, servos, sensors, and EtherNet/IP.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and translate issues to controls solutions.
• Willingness for onsite and occasional off-shift work.

Responsibilities

• Program, troubleshoot, and modify AB PLCs and HMIs for packaging equipment.
• Diagnose issues with VFDs, servos, motors, sensors, and networks.
• Improve reliability via root cause analysis and upgrades.
• Support integration, commissioning, and startup of new lines.
• Optimize sequences and changeovers to reduce downtime.
• Coordinate with maintenance, production, quality, and sanitation teams.
• Ensure safety and sanitation in automation modifications.
• Maintain drawings, documentation, backups, and procedures.
• Coordinate with vendors/on-site contractors for upgrades.
• Train staff on controls and troubleshooting.

Skills

AB PLC programming

HMI programming

VFDs & servos

Motion control

Electrical schematics

Onsite support

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Studio 5000/RSLogix

FactoryTalk View

Job description

Automation Engineer | Controls & PLC Specialist

$100000 - $130000 per year | Stratford, CT | On-site | Permanent

Automation & Controls Engineer | $100K–$130K Base (DOE) | PLC/HMI & Food Manufacturing | Stratford, CT | Onsite

A bit about us:

We are an established food manufacturer focused on quality, innovation, and reliable production. We’re seeking a hands‑on Automation Engineer to strengthen our controls capabilities, support equipment upgrades, and improve the performance of our processing and packaging operations.

This role bridges engineering, maintenance, and production, combining PLC/HMI programming with practical troubleshooting on the plant floor. You’ll help keep equipment running reliably while developing automation improvements that support safety, food quality, throughput, and continued growth.

Why join us?

• Take ownership of meaningful automation and equipment improvement projects.
• Work closely with plant leadership and an experienced manufacturing team.
• See the direct impact of your work on uptime, quality, and production performance.
• Help shape the controls and reliability capabilities of an established food manufacturing operation.

Job Details

Key Responsibilities

• Program, troubleshoot, and modify Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and HMIs supporting food processing and packaging equipment.
• Diagnose issues involving VFDs, servo drives, motors, sensors, instrumentation, and industrial networks.
• Improve equipment reliability through root cause analysis, controls upgrades, and permanent corrective actions.
• Support the integration, commissioning, and startup of new equipment and automated production lines.
• Optimize machine sequences, controls, and changeovers to reduce downtime, product waste, and production bottlenecks.
• Partner with maintenance technicians, production leaders, quality, and sanitation teams to implement practical equipment improvements.
• Ensure automation modifications account for machine safety, hygienic operation, and sanitation requirements.
• Maintain electrical drawings, control documentation, program backups, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, integrators, and contractors on upgrades and capital projects.
• Train maintenance and production personnel on equipment controls and troubleshooting practices.

Qualifications — Needed

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent technical experience considered.
• Typically 3–5+ years of controls or automation experience supporting manufacturing operations.
• Strong Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC and HMI programming and troubleshooting skills, including Studio 5000/RSLogix and FactoryTalk View.
• Experience with VFDs, servos, sensors, motion control, and EtherNet/IP networks.
• Hands‑on experience troubleshooting automated processing, conveying, filling, sealing, or packaging equipment.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and translate equipment issues into effective controls solutions.
• Experience with equipment integration, automation upgrades, and commissioning.
• Ability to work onsite and provide occasional off‑shift or weekend support for production needs and planned installations.

Preferred Experience

• Food or beverage manufacturing, particularly environments with frequent sanitation and product changeovers.
• Familiarity with GMPs, food safety practices, and washdown equipment.
• Robotics, machine vision, safety PLCs, or manufacturing data collection.
• Capital equipment projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

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