Controls Supervisor

Leprino; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Leprino Foods is seeking a Controls Supervisor for our brand new, state-of-the-art 600-person facility in Lubbock, TX. You will lead plant automation, mentor a controls team, and ensure safe, reliable production across all automation systems.

You will partner with maintenance, engineering, and operations to align controls priorities with plant needs, oversee upgrades, and support commissioning of new systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industrial controls experience in manufacturing.
• 1+ year leading or mentoring others.
• Associate degree or equivalent hands-on experience in controls/electrical.
• Experience with PLC-based control systems and plant automation.
• Ability to operate in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with SAP or similar maintenance platforms.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell platforms and HMIs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily controls activities to support safe, reliable production across plant automation systems.
• Guide and develop a controls team responsible for PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and related infrastructure.
• Support troubleshooting of controls downtime affecting production and utilities.
• Coordinate planned controls upgrades, modifications, and preventive improvements.
• Maintain knowledge of plant processes to diagnose automation issues.
• Partner with maintenance, utilities, engineering, and production teams on priorities.
• Reinforce safe work practices and documentation standards within the controls group.
• Review work orders and schedules to improve response time and system stability.
• Support commissioning, testing, and startup of new or modified automation systems.
• Communicate controls risks and health of systems with leadership and controls engineering.
• Build a collaborative controls team through coaching and mentorship.

Skills

Industrial controls experience

People leadership

PLC-based control systems

24/7 operations support

SAP familiarity

Education

Associate degree or equivalent hands-on experience in controls/electrical

Tools

Allen-Bradley / Rockwell automation

HMI/SCADA platforms

Industrial networks

Job description

Within our brand new state-of-the-art 600-person manufacturing facility in Lubbock, Leprino is seeking a Controls Supervisor to lead plant automation and control systems, support reliable production, and enable larger levels of cheese and dairy ingredient growth. We take pride in our vision to be the world’s best, which is why we invest in resilient automation, skilled teams, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead daily controls activities that support safe, reliable production across plant automation systems.
• Guide and develop a controls team responsible for PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and related automation infrastructure.
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of controls-related downtime impacting production and utilities systems.
• Coordinate planned controls upgrades, modifications, and preventive improvements to reduce unplanned outages.
• Maintain working knowledge of plant processes to diagnose and resolve complex automation issues.
• Partner with maintenance, utilities, engineering, and production teams to align controls priorities with operating needs.
• Reinforce safe work practices, change management discipline, and documentation standards within the controls group.
• Review work orders, schedules, and system issues to improve response time and system stability.
• Support commissioning, testing, and startup of new or modified automation systems.
• Communicate clearly with plant leadership and the corporate controls engineering team on controls risks, priorities, and system health.
• Build a collaborative, engaged controls team through coaching, mentoring, and technical development.
• We believe strong automation leadership keeps plants running safely and consistently. This role plays a key part in protecting uptime, quality, and system reliability.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• 5+ years of industrial controls experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 1+ year of experience leading, mentoring, or directing the work of others.
• Associate degree in controls engineering, industrial technology, electrical, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands‑on experience.
• Experience supporting PLC-based control systems and plant automation infrastructure.
• Ability to support operations in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Comfortable using computer systems and learning SAP or similar maintenance platforms.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley / Rockwell automation platforms, HMIs, and industrial networks.
• Prior supervisory experience supporting controls or automation teams in manufacturing.
• Experience supporting automation in food or dairy manufacturing environments.

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?