Electrical & Automation Manager

The Wonderful Company; Del Rey (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wonderful Company in California is seeking an Electrical & Controls Manager to lead and manage the electrical and controls team, ensuring safe and efficient manufacturing operations. In this role, you will provide technical leadership in troubleshooting and driving automation strategies.

Ideal candidates will have significant experience in electrical engineering or related fields, with a strong focus on reliability improvements and compliance with safety standards. Compensation is competitive, dependent on skills and experience, ranging from $110,000 to $140,000.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams.
• Strong ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and external contractors.
• Experience supporting high‑speed manufacturing operations within food or beverage environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the electrical and controls team.
• Provide technical leadership for electrical and automation troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Automation strategy

Continuous improvement

PLC and HMI programming

Electrical safety standards

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix

Siemens S7/TIA Portal

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Summary: The Electrical & Controls Manager is responsible for leading plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role combines people leadership, hands‑on troubleshooting, automation strategy, capital project execution, and continuous improvement ownership across processing, packaging, utilities, and facility support systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, develop, and manage the electrical and controls team through clear expectations, scheduling, training, performance management, and accountability for execution.
• Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems across Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes. Occasional regional travel as needed.
• Provide direct technical leadership for advanced troubleshooting of electrical, automation, networking, and controls‑related failures using schematics, software tools, and field diagnostics.
• Drive control system lifecycle management, including migration plans for obsolete PLC, HMI, network, and drive platforms.
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment, as well as controls upgrades for existing lines, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.
• Support plant electrical infrastructure and low‑voltage control systems, including troubleshooting, design review, documentation updates, and expansion planning.
• Support plant data and digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL‑connected systems, reporting tools, and machine‑level integration projects.
• Use CMMS data, downtime trends, and failure history to prioritize reliability actions and capital improvements.
• Provide on‑call or escalated support for critical production issues, shutdowns, startups, and major project activities as required.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements, arc flash expectations, LOTO practices, and machine safety standards; raise material risks to plant leadership.
• Manage approved controls contractors, system integrators, and vendors to ensure work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to plant standards.

Required Technical Expertise

PLC & Control Systems

• Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, and legacy SLC5 systems
• Siemens S7/TIA Portal platforms
• Exposure to B&R automation systems preferred
• Ability to troubleshoot, modify, and support PLC logic, I/O architecture, and integrated machine controls

Industrial Networks & Communications

• Ethernet/IP
  • Profinet
  • DeviceNet
  • ControlNet
  • Remote I/O systems
  • OPC communications preferred
• Understanding of managed industrial switches, routers, wireless infrastructure, and plant network architecture

HMI / SCADA Systems

• Allen‑Bradley PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View ME & SE
• Siemens HMI platforms
• Wonderware / AVEVA platforms
• SCADA, Historian, MES, and data collection systems
• Knowledge of visualization, alarming, trending, and operational reporting systems

Drives & Motion Control

• Allen‑Bradley PowerFlex series drives
• SEW Eurodrive systems
• B&R motion and drive platforms
• Emerson and Yaskawa drives
• VFDs
• Servo systems
• Motion control applications
• Motor control centers (MCCs)
• Soft starters and motor protection systems

Electrical & Instrumentation

• Electrical control panels
• Relay logic
• Safety circuits
• Instrumentation systems
• 24VAC / 24VDC / 4–20 mA control systems
• Level, Pressure, Flow, Temperature, Position and distance measurement devices

Software & Digital Systems

• SQL databases
• Historian systems
• MES platforms
• Data integration systems

Exposure to

• JSON
• APIs
• Web services
• Industrial data platforms
• Industry 4.0 technologies preferred

Engineering & Design Tools

• Electrical schematics
• Panel layouts
• P&IDs
• Mechanical drawings
• AutoCAD
• AutoCAD Electrical
• Visio
• Electrical design documentation

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and external vendors or contractors.
• Proven experience managing multiple priorities including production support, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and emergency plant support.
• Experience supporting high‑speed manufacturing, packaging, or processing operations within food, beverage, CPG, or related industrial environments preferred.
• Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement principles.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety standards and safe work practices including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and machine safety systems.
• Support capital planning, budgeting, and project justification activities related to controls, electrical infrastructure, reliability improvements, and automation modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, or plant modernization initiatives preferred.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment built on communication, accountability, engagement, and mutual respect.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical development skills.
• Detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage electrical & controls budget.
• Proactive leader who demonstrates ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset across plant operations and team performance.
• Self‑directed leader capable of balancing strategic planning with hands‑on operational support when required.
• Ability to support off‑shift, weekend, and emergency operational needs in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Education & Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combination of technical education and relevant industrial experience considered.
• Minimum 5–10 years of experience supporting industrial manufacturing systems in a production environment.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience in manufacturing, maintenance, automation, or controls preferred.
• Food & Beverage manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Compensation: $110,000.00 – $140,000.00. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

NWVL is an Equal Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, age, or other protected categories outlined by local legislation.

EEO is the law.