PLC Controls Leader - Maintenance

The J.M. Smucker Company; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Company is seeking a PLC Controls Leader for the Hostess Manufacturing Facility in Columbus, GA. This on-site role focuses on power and control systems engineering, equipment maintenance, and technician development to meet reliability targets across the bakery area.

The position requires strong experience with PLC hardware/software, data conditioning, and MES interactions, along with the ability to lead safety and compliance initiatives in a fast-paced plant environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of relevant controls experience.
• 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• Strong knowledge of machine and/or process control hardware, instrumentation and software including Allen Bradley PLC and Rockwell FactoryTalk platforms.
• Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary administrator and troubleshooter for plant power and control systems.
• Coach on skill assessment and development of operating and E&I technicians.
• Develop onboarding and ongoing development systems for engineers and leaders.
• Develop power and control standards and ensure application in area of responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with local and national regulator codes; maintain safety practices.

Skills

Controls engineering

MS Office familiarity

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Allen Bradley PLC

Rockwell FactoryTalk

Job description

Overview

Your Opportunity as the PLC Controls Leader

The Controls Leader will provide active support with regard to power and control systems, equipment specification and maintenance, proper operation, technician development, troubleshooting and repair to achieve or exceed reliability targets within the bakery or a specific department. Throughout the plant start-up process as well as in ongoing operations, this role has responsibility for systems optimization, compliance, personnel safety and technician skill development relative to plant electrical power and process control systems.

Location & Work Arrangements

Location: 1969 Victory Dr., Columbus, GA (Hostess Manufacturing Facility)

Work arrangements: 100% on‑site, Day Shift 6AM-6PM – flexibility required; willingness to work off shift (including nights, weekends, and/or holidays) and flow to the work as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary administrator and troubleshooter for plant power and control systems and act as a key member of plant technical leadership.
• Build and maintain a sustainable system for plant E&I skill development; coach on skill assessment and development of operating and E&I technicians within the department.
• Work with the site Technical Manager to build and maintain sustainable process and machine control onboarding and ongoing development systems for plant Process Engineers, Interns and Area Leaders.
• Work with the site Technical Manager and Plant Engineer to develop power and control standards and ensure application of the standards in the area of responsibility.
• Communicate and enforce technician compliance with local and national regulator codes; ensure equipment and safe practice compliance.
• Validate operating data from PLC into Proficy or other MES systems; support plant PEs in conditioning PLC data for effective data analysis, including application development.
• Own the validity and ongoing system for maintaining site sustainability metering equipment (power monitors and usage flow meters); use power monitoring data to develop plans to reduce overall consumption and costs.
• Provide expertise in design and implementation of machine control and process automation applications, such as control strategies, HMI design, MES applications and KPI development.
• Collaborate with site Technical Manager, other department management and technicians to identify losses, and develop plans and strategies to eliminate them in the areas of safety, quality, reliability and cost.
• Own key elements for systems related to power and control systems.
• Work closely with engineering and operations leaders on selection and installation/start‑up of new equipment; become the controls systems technical expert on new equipment and ensure training of others.
• Provide power and controls engineering support on capital initiatives in the area of responsibility.
• Support other plant areas on a daily basis.
• Learn and apply advanced control, simulation and process modeling technologies to analyze and improve overall process and packaging operations.
• Install and provide technical support for PLC‑based hardware and software.
• Troubleshoot and eliminate control systems issues; handle controls projects; extend start‑up support and training for control and monitoring systems.
• Execute wireless communication systems for manufacturing.
• Create system map layouts, sequence of operations, drawing packages, PLC logic, and HMI screens.
• Assist in installation oversight and start‑up debugging of machines.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of relevant controls experience.
• 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• Strong knowledge of machine and/or process control hardware, instrumentation and software including Allen Bradley PLC and Rockwell FactoryTalk platforms.
• Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

Preferred / Additional Skills

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Mechanical and electrical experience in food manufacturing.
• Experience leading and influencing others.
• Experience learning and integrating new technologies.
• Experience leading the installation of equipment in a food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated results in manufacturing maintenance utilizing maintenance systems.
• Experience with plant systems software (Proficy, Project Management, eAM, etc.).
• Understanding of technical systems and terminology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite applications.

Physical Demands

The job operates in a manufacturing environment. The noise level can be loud. Physical demands include:

• Regularly required to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Ability to lift objects up to 50 pounds frequently; may push and pull heavy objects.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be discriminated against in hiring or in any other aspect of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.