Principal Engineer, Intelligent Factory

Reynolds Consumer Products; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 144,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

Reynolds Consumer Products is seeking a Principal Engineer, Intelligent Factory at the Louisville plant. This role leads intelligent factory initiatives, connects production assets to enterprise analytics, and drives digital transformation across multiple facilities.

Expect travel up to 25% to support Hot Springs, Bellwood, and Wheeling plants. You will design and deploy scalable automation architectures, ensuring reliable data systems and informed decision making while advancing Industry 4.0

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or manufacturing technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead intelligent factory architecture and integration across multiple plants.
• Develop scalable manufacturing technology solutions that enable data-driven decision making and operational visibility.
• Drive standards, governance, and best practices for manufacturing technology investments and OT/IT alignment.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver automation, connectivity, and analytics initiatives.

Skills

PLC programming

Industrial networks

HMI/SCADA

Manufacturing data systems

OT environments

Industry 4.0

IIoT

AI-enabled manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related (preferred)

Job description

Join Reynolds Consumer Products… and Drive Your Career across a world of opportunities! We currently have an opportunity for a Principal Engineer, Intelligent Factory at our Louisville plant in Louisville, KY. This position will travel up to 25% and support the Hot Springs, AK, Bellwood, VA, and Wheeling, IL plants in addition to the Louisville plant.

Responsibilities

The Principal Intelligent Factory Controls Engineer is a highly experienced individual contributor responsible for advancing manufacturing automation, equipment connectivity, and Intelligent Factory technologies across RCP Cooking and Foil operations. This role develops and implements scalable manufacturing technology solutions that enable data-driven decision making, operational visibility, and digital transformation initiatives. Leveraging deep expertise in controls engineering, industrial connectivity, and manufacturing systems integration, the position solves complex technical challenges, develops reusable engineering solutions, and influences the adoption of standards and best practices that improve manufacturing performance, reliability, and business outcomes across multiple facilities.

Manufacturing Technology Leadership

• Develops and implements manufacturing automation, connectivity, and Intelligent Factory solutions that improve operational performance, manufacturing visibility, and business outcomes.
• Solves complex manufacturing technology challenges, developing solutions that are scalable, reliable, supportable, and aligned with business goals.
• Serves as a recognized subject matter expert for controls, automation, industrial connectivity, and manufacturing systems integration, influencing technical direction across facilities.

Intelligent Factory Architecture & Integration

• Leads the design and deployment of integrated manufacturing technology architectures that connect production assets with Intelligent Factory platforms, enabling real-time visibility and data-driven decision making.
• Ensures manufacturing systems, machine data, and operational technologies are effectively integrated to support enterprise analytics, performance management, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Establishes reusable technical approaches that accelerate deployment, improve consistency, and reduce complexity across manufacturing operations.

Operational Performance Enablement

• Designs and delivers machine connectivity and automation solutions that enable accurate performance measurement, operational visibility, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensures manufacturing data is accurate, reliable, and capable of supporting key performance indicators, operational analytics, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Identifies and implements opportunities to increase efficiency, reliability, productivity, and process performance through technology-enabled solutions.

Innovation & Technology Advancement

• Evaluates, develops, and operationalizes emerging manufacturing technologies that create measurable business value and support long-term Intelligent Factory strategy.
• Leads technical proof-of-concept and pilot initiatives, validating technologies and establishing scalable deployment approaches for broader adoption.
• Advances the foundational controls, sensing, and connectivity capabilities required to support future manufacturing intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI-driven initiatives.

Enterprise Standards & Technical Governance

• Establishes and promotes standards, best practices, and technical frameworks that improve consistency, maintainability, and supportability across manufacturing facilities.
• Provides technical oversight and guidance for manufacturing technology investments, ensuring solutions align with architectural, operational, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Captures and applies organizational learning to strengthen future implementations and drive continuous improvement of engineering practices.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Technical Consultation

• Partners with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, OEMs, and system integrators to deliver manufacturing technology solutions that meet business and operational objectives.
• Provides expert consultation on complex technical challenges, driving resolution of issues with significant operational impact.
• Facilitates knowledge transfer and technical capability development to ensure successful adoption and long-term support of implemented solutions.

You Will Love It Here If…

• You listen, learn, and evolve
• You thrive in a fast-paced environment
• You put safety first, always
• You are passionate about collaboration, teamwork, and achieving shared goals
• You believe in treating all people with respect, operating ethically, and growing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
• You are committed to improving our impact on local communities and creating positive experiences

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems integration, or related manufacturing technology disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting digital transformation, operational excellence, or Intelligent Factory initiatives within a manufacturing environment.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Demonstrated experience leading complex manufacturing technology challenges involving PLCs, industrial networks, machine connectivity, SCADA, MES, historians, manufacturing data systems, and operational technology (OT) environments.
• Proven ability to independently develop, implement, and support enterprise-scale technical solutions that deliver measurable operational and business value across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Experience providing technical guidance, mentoring, and subject matter expertise to engineers, plant resources, OEMs, system integrators, and cross-functional project teams.
• Advanced knowledge of industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing systems integration, and operational technology (OT) environments.
• Expertise with PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networking, machine connectivity, and manufacturing data systems.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0, IIoT, advanced analytics, AI-enabled manufacturing technologies, and digital transformation initiatives.

Competencies

• Strategic Mindset - Anticipates future technical and market needs and translates insights into engineering strategies and long-term growth opportunities.
• Decision Quality - Evaluates technical feasibility, strategic fit, business potential, risk, and financial return to guide priorities and investments.
• Drives Results - Advances engineering, commercialization, cost reduction, and operational programs to achieve business commitments.
• Manages Complexity – Effectively navigates complex technical, operational, and organizational challenges by integrating information from multiple sources and developing practical, scalable solutions.
• Collaborates – Builds productive partnerships across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, vendors, and leadership teams to align stakeholders and achieve shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively – Conveys complex technical concepts and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, building alignment and driving informed decision-making.

Posted Salary Range

USD $144,100.00 - USD $214,350.00 /A

Bonus Eligibility

Role is eligible for 25% annual incentive provided the business meets financial goals and the individual meets their performance goals, subject to plan administration guidelines.

RCP affords equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability status, sex, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, national origin, genetics, genetic information, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. RCP conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.