Electrical & Automation Manager **1st Shift

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental

401(k) with match

Wellness programs

Career growth opportunities

Mentorship program

Employee resource groups

Job summary

POM Wonderful seeks an Electrical & Controls Manager to lead plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support across processing, packaging, and utilities. You will manage a technical team, drive reliability and continuous improvement, and collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, IT/OT, and external integrators.

The role emphasizes capital project leadership, lifecycle management of PLC/HMI systems, and ensuring safe, compliant operations in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Leadership of electrical, automation, or reliability teams.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives (Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Safety).
• Experience managing multiple priorities including production support and capital projects.
• Experience in food, beverage, or related industrial environments.
• Understanding of safety standards including LOTO, Arc Flash, and machine safety.
• Capital planning, budgeting, and project justification responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Electrical & Controls team with clear expectations, scheduling, training, and accountability.
• Own plant PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems; regional travel as needed.
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting electrical, automation, networking, and controls issues.
• Drive control system lifecycle management and migration plans for obsolete platforms.
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment and upgrades for lines and utilities.
• Support plant electrical infrastructure and low-voltage control systems; document updates and expansion planning.
• Support data/digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL, and reporting tools.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Automation

Food & Beverage

Electrical safety

Capital projects

PLC/Controls

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

AutoCAD

AutoCAD Electrical

Visio

Panel layouts

Job description

Company DescriptionFrom tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.

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.

The manager leads a technical team while partnering closely with operations, maintenance, quality, IT/OT, engineering, and external integrators to improve equipment reliability, modernize legacy control systems, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, and OEE.

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

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; escalate 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.

Qualifications

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.
• 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 will be 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 is strongly preferred.

Additional Information

POM's Dedication to You:

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including:
• 24/7 online physician consultations
• virtual mental health resources
• life coaching
• engaging employee community groups
• cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements
• library of on-demand fitness videos
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units.
• Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
• Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward.
• Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.
• Building a Healthy Society: To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California’s Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1 in PEOPLE’s “100 Companies That Care” list and was named one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com.
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.
• POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products, including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends and teas. With nearly two million pomegranate trees in Central California, we grow, handpick and juice our own pomegranates to ensure the highest quality.

The Wonderful Company is an Equality 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, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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