Controls Engineer - Allen Bradley

Cafe Valley Bakery; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cafe Valley Bakery is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to design, program, and optimize automation for high-volume bakery production. You will work with Allen-Bradley PLCs and HMIs across ControlLogix/CompactLogix platforms, ensuring efficient, compliant processes from ovens to packaging.

The role requires hands-on PLC programming, food-manufacturing experience, and collaboration with maintenance, production, and quality teams to improve line reliability and food safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on Allen-Bradley PLC programming in an industrial setting.
• Direct experience in the commercial baking or food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, VFDs, servo systems, and networking.
• Experience on high-speed, continuous production lines.
• Ability to read and create electrical schematics and control documentation.
• Comfortable working on the plant floor in a production environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PanelView, FactoryTalk).
• Support automation for commercial baking processes including mixing, proofing, baking, cooling, and packaging.
• Diagnose and resolve controls-related downtime to maximize line efficiency and throughput.
• Collaborate with maintenance, production, and quality teams to improve equipment reliability and food safety compliance.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, PLC programs, and technical documentation.
• Lead or support equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
• Interface with OEMs, integrators, and vendors for bakery equipment.
• Ensure systems comply with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
• Provide training and technical support to maintenance and operations teams.

Skills

Allen-Bradley PLC

HMI programming

Industrial networking

Electrical schematics

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls Engineering

Tools

FactoryTalk View

PanelView

Historian

MES systems

Job description

Job Description

Job DescriptionWe are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer with strong Allen-Bradley PLC expertise and hands-on experience in the commercial baking industry. This role will support, design, and optimize automation systems for high-volume bakery production lines, including ovens, mixers, conveyors, proofers, and packaging equipment. The ideal candidate understands the unique challenges of food production environments and thrives in fast-paced manufacturing settings.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PanelView, FactoryTalk).


• Support automation for commercial baking processes including mixing, proofing, baking, cooling, and packaging.


• Diagnose and resolve controls-related downtime issues to ensure maximum line efficiency and throughput.


• Collaborate with maintenance, production, and quality teams to improve equipment reliability and food safety compliance.


• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, PLC programs, and technical documentation.


• Lead or support equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.


• Interface with OEMs, integrators, and vendors for new and existing bakery equipment.


• Ensure systems comply with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.


• Provide training and technical support to maintenance and operations teams.

Required Skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, or equivalent experience.


• 3+ years of hands-on Allen-Bradley PLC programming and troubleshooting in an industrial environment.


• Direct experience in the commercial baking or food manufacturing industry.


• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, VFDs, servo systems, and industrial networking.


• Experience working in high-speed, continuous production environments.


• Ability to read and create electrical schematics and control documentation.


• Comfortable working on the plant floor in a production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with FactoryTalk View, Historian, or MES systems.


• Familiarity with bakery equipment such as tunnel ovens, spiral freezers, proofers, and automated packaging lines.


• Experience with process optimization, line efficiency improvements, and root cause analysis.


• Understanding of food safety standards (GMPs, HACCP, USDA/FDA environments).