Electrical & Automation Manager

Thewonderfulcompany; Del Rey (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Thewonderfulcompany is seeking a Lead, Electrical & Controls Leader to guide and develop the electrical and controls team across our Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes. You will set expectations, schedule work, coach performance, and ensure accountability for safe, reliable operation.

You will own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, safety circuits, and supervisory systems; drive lifecycle upgrades, support digital initiatives, and coordinate with contractors to deliver on time and

Qualifications

• Experience leading electrical/automation teams in manufacturing.
• Ability to collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Safety, and vendors.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities including capital projects.
• Experience with high-speed packaging/processing environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of reliability, root cause analysis, and preventive maintenance.
• Familiar with electrical safety standards, LOTO and arc flash.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the electrical and controls team to deliver projects on schedule.
• Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, and safety circuits.
• Drive lifecycle management and migrations of PLC/drive platforms.
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment and controls upgrades.
• Support data and digital initiatives with historians, MES, and SQL-connected systems.
• Prioritize reliability actions using CMMS data and downtime trends.
• Provide on-call support for critical production issues and major projects.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety, LOTO, and machine safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Electrical Systems

PLC/SCADA

Cross-functional

Project Management

Reliability Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Electrical

Visio

PanelView Plus

FactoryTalk View

TIA Portal

Job description

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 to support other facilities.

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; elevate 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.

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

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 / 4-20mA 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.