Controls Engineer I (Capital Projects)

Leprino Foods; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Tuition assistance

401(k)

Bonuses

Job summary

Leprino Foods in Denver seeks a Controls Engineer I to lead the controls scope for large capital projects and shape automation architecture that keeps plants running safely and at scale. You will coordinate with Controls Integration Engineers who execute programming and commissioning work.

Starting compensation ranges between $90,000 and $102,000, with opportunities to influence enterprise standards for controls engineering and safety systems across our facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Automation/Computer Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of PLC/SCADA integration experience.
• Experience leading controls scope on capital projects.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking and safety systems.
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically.

Responsibilities

• Own the controls strategy for major capital projects.
• Design line-level controls that coordinate OEM platforms.
• Develop system specs including network design and safety architecture.
• Coordinate OEM and integrator work to meet Leprino standards.
• Review and guide PLC and HMI development.
• Lead FAT and SAT activities and vendor coordination.
• Provide technical leadership during installation and startup.
• Advise plants on automation strategies and maintainability.
• Support project planning and scope management.
• Contribute to enterprise standards for controls engineering.

Skills

PLC/SCADA integration

ControlLogix programming

Wonderware InTouch

Industrial networking

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering / Automation / Computer Engineering / Mechatronics

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Wonderware System Platform

InTouch

SCADA

Job description

$90,000 and $102,000.What You'll Do:Own the controls strategy for major capital projects, defining architecture, standards, and system requirements for new production lines and automation upgrades. Design line-level controls solutions that coordi

parental leave, paid holidays, sick time, tuition assistance, 401(k)

Within our Corporate Project Engineering team located in Denver - Leprino is seeking a Controls Engineer I to lead the controls scope for large capital projects and shape the system-level automation architecture that keeps our plants running safely, reliably, and at scale. This role focuses on high-impact project leadership, controls design, and vendor coordination while partnering closely with Controls Integration Engineers who execute detailed programming and commissioning work.

At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $90,000 and $102,000.

What You'll Do:

• Own the controls strategy for major capital projects, defining architecture, standards, and system requirements for new production lines and automation upgrades.
• Design line-level controls solutions that coordinate equipment across OEM platforms and deliver reliable, transparent operation across plants.
• Develop system specifications, including network design, safety architecture, interlock strategy, sequencing logic, SCADA interfaces, and MES data requirements.
• Coordinate OEM and integrator work, ensuring programming, documentation, and hardware designs meet Leprino standards and integrate cleanly into plant systems.
• Review, approve, and guide PLC and HMI development while delegating detailed coding and field execution to Controls Integration Engineers.
• Lead FAT and SAT activities, validate system behavior, and direct corrective actions with vendors and internal engineers.
• Provide technical leadership during installation and startup, resolving system-level issues, tuning performance, and ensuring safe commissioning.
• Advise plants and project teams on automation strategies, controls reliability, and long‑term maintainability.
• Support project planning, including scope definition, timelines, risk assessments, and early detection of scope or budget impacts.
• Contribute to enterprise standards for controls engineering, safety systems, instrumentation, and industrial networking.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical field.
• A minimum of four years of experience in PLC/SCADA integration, including ControlLogix programming and/or Wonderware System Platform, InTouch, or related tools.
• Experience leading controls scope on capital projects, including vendor coordination and system-level design.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking, safety systems, instrumentation, and line‑integration principles.
• The ability to travel up to 50 percent to our domestic facilities.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• A Master's degree in Engineering.
• Experience directing controls programming or integration work in a manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to robotic systems, advanced communication networks, or large-scale automation platforms.
• Prior involvement in major line installations, including FAT/SAT oversight and system commissioning.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual's unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino's history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We've grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world's largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the "World's Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company." From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

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