Controls Engineer (Manufacturing Environment)

cereliabakerycanada; Hazelwood (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

cereliabakerycanada is hiring a Controls Engineer for their facility in Hazelwood, MO. You will be responsible for maintaining and optimizing plant automation and controls systems while supporting production efficiency and uptime.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering and over 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment. Key responsibilities include troubleshooting electrical issues, supporting the design of new systems, and collaborating with various teams to enhance operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required in Electrical or Controls Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in controls engineering within a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Strong knowledge of industrial networks and drives.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and resolve electrical issues to minimize downtime.
• Support all plant control systems including PLCs and HMIs.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations teams for minimal disruption.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI systems

SCADA systems

Electrical troubleshooting

Automation improvements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley programming tools

FactoryTalk

Wonderware

Job description

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Department: Maintenance/Engineering

Reports To: Maintenance Manager

Site: Hazelwood, MO

FLSA Status: Exempt

Company Overview

Cérélia's newly established Frozen Breakfast Business Unit – US Waffle – is driving an ambitious growth strategy backed by two manufacturing facilities, Liberty, SC, and Hazelwood, MO. To support the rapid scaling of operations at our state‑of‑the‑art Hazelwood facility, US Waffle seeks a dynamic Controls Engineer to join our team.

Job Overview

This role supports and advances the plant’s automation, controls, and electrical systems to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable manufacturing operations. The Controls Engineer owns PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems across the facility, ensuring uptime, troubleshooting complex issues, and supporting new equipment integration and capital projects. Operating as a hands‑on contributor, the engineer works side‑by‑side with maintenance technicians on the floor, troubleshooting equipment issues and occasionally performing mechanical and electrical work as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• Report to work as scheduled every day and demonstrate excellent attendance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve electrical and controls‑related issues to minimize downtime and support production.
• Own and support all plant control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and SCADA.
• Actively support the maintenance team on the floor as part of daily operations.
• Occasionally perform mechanical and electrical work (“turn a wrench”) to support uptime and team effectiveness.
• Develop, modify, and optimize PLC and HMI programs to improve equipment performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Support and lead controls integration for new equipment and capital projects, including:
  • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
  • Startup and commissioning support
  • System validation and performance optimization
  • Standardizing controls architecture and documentation across the plant
  • Maintaining and updating electrical schematics, network layouts, and controls documentation
  • Partnering with OEMs (e.g., ovens, packaging systems) for troubleshooting, upgrades, and system improvements
  • Ensuring proper backup and version control of all PLC and HMI programs
  • Supporting plant network related to controls systems (OT network) for secure and reliable connectivity
  • Identifying and implementing automation improvements to reduce labor, improve throughput, and enhance product quality
  • Supporting root cause analysis (RCA) efforts for recurring downtime and implementing permanent corrective actions
  • Training and supporting maintenance technicians in basic controls troubleshooting and system understanding
  • Collaborating with maintenance and operations teams to ensure equipment readiness and minimal disruption to production
  • Ensuring all controls systems comply with safety standards, GMPs, and food safety requirements
  • Supporting integration of systems with ERP/plant systems (e.g., Plex) where applicable
  • Driving continuous improvement initiatives related to automation, controls, and system performance
• Perform other duties as assigned or of a similar nature or level.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required (Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in controls engineering within a manufacturing environment (food/CPG preferred)
• Strong experience with PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell strongly preferred)
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Wonderware, or similar)
• Strong knowledge of industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, etc.) and drives (VFDs), motors, and electrical systems
• Experience troubleshooting electrical and automation systems in a live production environment
• Hands‑on experience supporting maintenance teams, including mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
• Experience supporting capital projects, including equipment installation and commissioning
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings
• Experience working with OEM equipment and vendors
• Familiarity with food safety, GMP, and regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience with ERP systems (Plex experience a plus)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong communication skills across technical and non‑technical teams
• High sense of urgency and accountability
• Ability to train and develop maintenance personnel on controls systems

Additional Information

Direct Reports: This role may initially operate as an individual contributor but will have the opportunity to build and lead resources over time.

Position Type / Expected Hours: Full Time Exempt, 40 hours per week; may require additional hours as needed.

Travel: This position may require minimal travel.