Senior Automation Controls Engineer

TFC Poultry

Winchester (VA)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

TFC Poultry in Winchester, VA is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, support, and continuously improve industrial automation and control systems across manufacturing operations. You will partner with operations, maintenance, engineering, IT/OT, and vendors to improve reliability, safety, data visibility, process capability, and equipment performance.

The role reports to the Technology Team Leader and requires hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and industrial networks.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical field preferred; equivalent industrial controls experience may be considered
5+ years of hands-on experience supporting PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial instrumentation, motor controls, VFDs, sensors, and automated production equipment
Experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley controls platforms preferred; experience with Ignition or similar SCADA/historian platforms strongly preferred
Ability to read, interpret, and update electrical schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, network diagrams, control narratives, and equipment documentation
Working knowledge of industrial Ethernet, control networks, cybersecurity basics, backup/version management, and safe change-control practices
Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ability to support occasional off-hours troubleshooting, project startups, plant shutdown work, and vendor/OEM commissioning activities as business needs require
Manufacturing, food processing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, or regulated-industry experience preferred

Responsibilities

Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian, and industrial network systems supporting production and utilities operations
Create and maintain control narratives, electrical drawings, I/O lists, panel documentation, program backups, change logs, and technical standards
Support automation design, programming, commissioning, FAT/SAT execution, startup, validation, and turnover for capital projects and plant improvement work
Partner with maintenance and operations to reduce automation-related downtime through root cause analysis, corrective actions, alarm rationalization, and preventive controls practices
Implement safe, reliable, and maintainable control solutions that support workforce usability, sanitation, food safety, production quality, and equipment reliability
Support data collection, dashboards, OEE/downtime reporting, historian tags, and integration between floor-level controls and business systems
Assist with control platform standardization, approved component selection, spare parts strategy, lifecycle planning, and obsolescence risk reduction
Work with vendors, OEMs, contractors, and internal stakeholders to specify, review, test, and implement automation solutions that meet company standards
Provide technical support for production issues, utilities systems, process improvements, safety upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives
Promote a professional company image through clear communication, strong ownership, safe work practices, and effective collaboration with plant and corporate teams