Distillery Automation & Controls Engineer

MGP Ingredients; Lawrenceburg (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401(k) Match

PTO

Job summary

MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg seeks a Distillery Controls Engineer to lead technical efforts for DCS and operational technology. This role includes project management, ensuring reliable operation while improving process controls.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field and have experience with DCS programming and instrumentation. MGP promotes a culture emphasizing safety and inclusivity while offering excellent medical and retirement benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related engineering discipline required.
• 5+ years of industrial experience in related fields.
• Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale DCS and OT projects from concept through commissioning.
• Provide subject matter expertise for DCS programming and troubleshooting.
• Plan and coordinate control system activities for major maintenance events.

Skills

DCS programming

HMI development

Instrumentation calibration

Project management

Electrical engineering principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Excel

DCS programming platforms

Job description

MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons, whiskeys, ryes, gins, and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGP's own Branded Spirts business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco, a top spirits producer, bottler, supplier, and importer as well as the 2023 acquisition of Penelope Bourbon, known for its wide range of uniquely blended expressions. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional, functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S., and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

The Opportunity

The Distillery Controls Engineer provides technical leadership and oversight for the plant’s distributed control systems (DCS) and operational technology (OT) environment to ensure reliable, secure, and efficient plant operations. This role leads control system projects, supports system reliability and cybersecurity, and partners cross functionally to maintain and improve process control, instrumentation, and automation capabilities.

What You Will Be Doing

Project Management

• Lead large-scale DCS and OT hardware and software upgrade projects from concept through commissioning.
• Develop project scope, schedules, budgets, and resource plans for capital and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Select control system hardware, software, and instrumentation solutions that meet operational and safety requirements.
• Coordinate internal resources and external contractors to execute projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Oversee installation, testing, documentation, and transition of completed projects to operations.
  
  

OT System Administration

• Lead large-scale DCS and OT hardware and software upgrade projects from concept through commissioning.
• Develop project scope, schedules, budgets, and resource plans for capital and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Select control system hardware, software, and instrumentation solutions that meet operational and safety requirements.
• Coordinate internal resources and external contractors to execute projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Oversee installation, testing, documentation, and transition of completed projects to operations.
  
  

Engineering Services

• Provide subject matter expertise for DCS programming, troubleshooting, modifications, and system enhancements.
• Develop, modify, and deploy control logic, HMI screens, and instrumentation configurations.
• Partner with Process Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Warehouse, and Quality teams to support operational goals.
• Create, maintain, and control technical documentation for control system hardware, software, and network architecture.
  
  

Maintenance Support

• Plan and coordinate control system activities for annual shutdowns and major maintenance events.
• Identify required materials, spare parts, and labor resources to support scheduled maintenance work.
• Verify instrumentation and control equipment meet calibration, performance, and safety standards.
  
  

Leadership & Technical Guidance

• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to engineering, maintenance, production, and warehouse teams.
• Support contractor onboarding and ensure technical alignment with plant control system standards.
• Respond to critical control system issues, including providing after-hours support when required.
  
  

Who We Are Looking For

• A safety minded individual who possesses a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electro-mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or an accredited associate degree combined with at least five (5) years of relevant industrial experience.
• Complete and apply training on plant control systems, including DCS programming, HMI development, input/output configuration, and system troubleshooting.
• Configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot a wide range of industrial instrumentation and control devices.
• Create and maintain electrical and control system drawings using AutoCAD or equivalent electronic drafting tools.
• Apply working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and NFPA 70E standards; utilize NFPA 70B and DISCUS standards where applicable.
• Perform control system engineering work in a manufacturing or industrial environment, preferably within distillation, grain processing, or similar process driven operations.
• Troubleshoot, modify, and support distributed control systems (DCS), including systems operating in virtualized environments.
• Execute control system project development, implementation, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Configure and support I/O devices, instrumentation, and associated control software platforms.
• Apply engineering principles to the design, operation, and troubleshooting of industrial control systems, instrumentation, and electrical power systems.
• Evaluate and implement current industrial control technologies to improve system reliability, safety, and performance.
• Administer and support control system infrastructure within a virtualized operational technology (OT) environment.
• Diagnose and resolve control system issues across hardware, instrumentation, networking, DCS, and HMI platforms.
• Prioritize and respond to critical operational system issues to restore safe and reliable plant operations.
• Coordinate effectively with contractors and service providers performing instrumentation and control system work.
• Use administrative and technical software tools to document, track, and support engineering activities.
• Provide after hours technical support, remotely or on site, when required to address critical system issues and maintain operational continuity.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook, SAP, copier/printer.
• Standard office equipment, computers, administrative software, manuals, technical documentation, books, and other written resources.
• Hand tools, power tools, two-way radios, sanitation equipment, and laboratory or field equipment.
• Electrical measurement meters and programming devices.
• Industrial control system and automation software, including DCS and PLC programming platforms, HMI development software, virtualization tools, and instrumentation configuration and calibration systems.
• Electronic drafting and documentation software, including AutoCAD or equivalent.
• Material handling and access equipment, including fork trucks and JLG man lifts.
• Electrician’s hand tools and required personal protective equipment (PPE), including arc flash protection.
  
  

This position involves significant physical activity. You must be able to lift to 50 pounds to shoulder height on occasion and remain physically mobile throughout the entire shift, including extensive walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, and using stairs. You must be able to stand for periods of up to six hours. You will need sufficient dexterity to operate phones, computers, and precision mechanical tools. The role may occasionally require driving. Full sensory capability is required, including the ability to hear, smell, touch, speak, taste, and distinguish colors. You must be able to work in tight spaces and tolerate exposure to both high heat and cold for the full duration of the shift. Some tasks require remaining stationary at a computer for up to six hours.

If the above speaks to you, we’re excited to learn more about you! At MGP, we know that our people are our greatest strength. At Lawrenceburg, we are extremely focused on our 2026 Safety initiative, and we hope you want to be a part of that. With different perspectives and unique ways of thinking, our employees are as varied as our products. We believe that inclusivity strengthens the organization and champions a company culture that is evolving to reflect all of us. Culture results from our behaviors, our personal commitment, our curiosity, how we collaborate, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and expect others to do the same. Each of us can make a difference by fostering thinking and actions that empower us to connect, belong, and grow together.

MGP offers exceptional medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) Match and PTO.

All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test as well as physical assessment.

Candidates will also be required to achieve a qualifying score on a pre-employment mechanical assessment.