Controls & Digitalization Project Lead (50% Travel)

Mars; Victorville (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Influence across 14 sites

Mars University learning & development

Competitive salary with bonus

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Project Manager - Controls to lead digitalization and automation initiatives across our North American manufacturing footprint. You will drive capital projects from scoping through handover, integrating advanced control systems with Factory IT, and coordinating with controls and IT teams to ensure seamless deployment.

The role requires strong communication, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to travel up to 50% for commissioning, startups, and handovers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in a comparable technical position OR 10+ Controls experience within the Food and Beverage industry.
• In-depth knowledge of industrial LV electrical systems, instrumentation, PLCs, and HMI/SCADA interfaces (e.g., Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley, Siemens).
• Knowledge of MES/MOM systems, Factory IT Systems (servers, networks), and Factory Cyber Security a plus.
• Demonstrated success managing capital projects (scheduling, contractors, budgets).
• Ability to travel up to 50% for commissioning, startups, and handovers.

Responsibilities

• Research and evaluate emerging digitalization and automation technologies for project requirements.
• Deliver multiple capital investment projects from scoping to project closure.
• Oversee integration of digitalization and automation systems with existing manufacturing infrastructure.
• Collaborate with controls and IT/automation engineers to tailor solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety and quality guidelines.
• Identify and manage project risks and mitigate issues.
• Facilitate handover to operations and maintenance teams.
• Maintain stakeholder communication and regular status updates.
• Manage budgets and resources to meet financial targets.
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to end-users.

Skills

Strong communication

Travel up to 50%

Team collaboration

Project management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Electrical or Electronics Engineering degree

Tools

Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley

Siemens

MES/MOM platforms

Job description

Mars is seeking a Project Manager - Controls to lead digitalization and automation initiatives across our North American manufacturing footprint. You will drive capital projects from scoping through handover, integrating advanced control systems with Factory IT, and coordinating with controls and IT teams to ensure seamless deployment.

The role requires strong communication, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to travel up to 50% for commissioning, startups, and handovers.