Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

IFF; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Competitive retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

IFF is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer located at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware. The candidate will play a crucial role in designing and implementing automation systems to enhance product performance and sustainability across various markets.

With a focus on innovation and collaboration, the ideal applicant should have over 7 years of relevant experience and expertise in PLC programming. IFF offers a supportive environment aimed at fostering the unique contributions of each employee.

Qualifications

• 7+ years as an automation and/or controls integration engineer.
• Experience developing non-Ladder Logic PLC automation systems.
• Familiarity with electrical system design standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and support automation for experimental process systems.
• Collaborate to translate process requirements into control strategies.
• Own automation systems from concept through implementation.
• Select and troubleshoot process instrumentation.

Skills

PLC programming

System integration

Safety oriented design

SQL usage

Electrical system design

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

SCADA systems

HMIs

Data visualization tools

Job description

Job Summary

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Health & Biosciences

Channeling our passion for nature and bioscience into sustainable, life‑enhancing technologies that power innovative solutions across healthcare, food, consumer, and industrial markets.

Location and Role

Located at the DuPont Experimental Station, this role supports a business that applies science, engineering and bioscience innovation to develop enzymes, cultures, probiotics and other solutions that help improve product performance, advance sustainability and enhance health and wellness across multiple markets.

Be part of a collaborative, solution‑oriented, and innovative team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

As part of this team, the Senior Automation Engineer will help enable reliable, efficient and scalable operations in a highly collaborative R&D environment. We are seeking a Senior Automation Engineer who can design, implement, and evolve automation systems in a flexible R&D environment, with strong PLC programming skills, hands‑on system integration experience, and the ability to translate process needs into robust control and data solutions.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Design and support automation for flexible, experimental process systems, requiring frequent modification, rapid iteration, and integration of new instrumentation.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, scientists and technicians to translate process requirements into control strategies and data systems.
• Own automation systems from concept through implementation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Programming and maintaining PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and data historians.
• Select, integrate, and troubleshoot process instrumentation (e.g., flow, pressure, temperature, gas analysis)
• Diagnose and resolve issues in field wiring, I/O signals (analog/digital), and industrial communication networks
• Provide hands‑on support, including working within electrical enclosures, validating signals, and commissioning control systems
• Support automated data collection, reporting systems, and integration with local networks

What Makes You The Right Fit

• 7+ years as an automation and/or controls integration engineer in an industrial or R&D setting.
• Development of non‑Ladder Logic PLC automation systems to control existing processes and field instruments.
• Knowledge and experience implementing and managing custom SCADA and MES.
• Safety oriented approach to system design and control logic.
• Familiarity with electrical system design, including panel layouts, I/O architecture, and applicable standards (UL 508A, NFPA 70E).
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols (e.g. OPC, Modbus, serial communication).
• Experience using SQL for database updating and retrieval.
• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail.
• Team player with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, evolving R&D environment.

How Would You Stand Out

• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical/Controls Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; equivalent industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Familiarity with natural language query (NLQ) and AI‑enabled analytics platforms.
• Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Spotfire and statistical software such as JMP.
• Experience with database development and management.
• Ability to work effectively within existing corporate network and firewall constraints.
• Experience supporting automation initiatives across both industrial and R&D environments.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting experience within electrical enclosures.

Why Choose Us

• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and wellness programs
• Competitive retirement savings plan with company contribution
• Generous paid time off, holidays, and parental leave
• Career development programs and tuition reimbursement opportunities
• Employee assistance programs and well‑being resourcesCollaborative work environment with opportunities to contribute to impactful innovation

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more