Senior Controls Engineer

Sonoco; Hartsville (SC); On-site; USD 126,310 - 133,740; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sonoco is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineering Manager to lead the electrical and controls group in Hartsville, SC. This role involves overseeing the design, installation, and support of innovative automation solutions for high-volume manufacturing technologies.

The ideal candidate will ensure safety standards, develop PLC and HMI programs, and manage automation projects, contributing to our commitment to advanced manufacturing processes and talent development.

Competitive salary and benefits including 401(k) with match, medical insurance, and more.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of electrical control system design.
• Experience overseeing lean control panel fabrication.
• Demonstrated leadership in technician development.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical and controls group in new facility.
• Develop process standards for safety performance.
• Manage automation projects ensuring delivery on-time.

Skills

Electrical control system design

PLC programming

HMI programming

Leadership and development

Creative thinking

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Controls Engineering

Tools

EPLAN

Studio5000

Ignition SCADA

Job description

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive. Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We’re extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Sonoco launched the Automation Team in late 2022 to provide corporate resources to lead and support automation projects in partnership with ISI Robotics. Our long-term goal is to internalize the capability to design, build, integrate, and support automation solutions, enabling faster and more effective implementations across operations.

In late 2023, our Machinery Manufacturing division in Hartsville, SC was assigned to the Automation Team, providing machining, fabrication and assembly capabilities. Investments were made to double the size of this operation in 2024, equipping the Automation Team to internalize manufacturing control design, installation, and support, previously outsourced.

Reporting directly to Sonoco’s Manufacturing Automation Engineering Manager, the Senior Electrical Engineering Manager will lead the electrical and controls group in our new Hartsville facility and oversee the design, build, integration, installation, and support of innovative controls and automation solutions for high-volume, diverse manufacturing technologies.

Responsibilities

• Leadership of the electrical, controls, and automation technicians, including training, development, and oversight of day-to-day activities.
• Development and retention of talent.
• Development of process standards that ensure consistency and a focus on maximizing safety performance of all solutions.
• Manage the change‑management process and IP security for all elements of solutions, including drawings, source code, and concepts.
• Actively participate in and lead collaborative brainstorming sessions to conceptualize the simplest automation solution for complex problems.
• Design electrical systems for customized automation solutions using EPLAN.
• Provide support for and assist automation technicians during panel fabrication, shop testing, installation, and field support.
• Develop reliable PLC programs in Studio5000.
• Develop intuitive HMI programs.
• Integrate comprehensive alarms and messaging into PLC and HMI programs.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting for automated machinery as needed.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance teams to ensure equipment is properly operated and maintained.
• Support automated data collection and reliability tracking.
• Create capital project proposals that clearly communicate the opportunity and proposed solution to Plant, Divisional, and Corporate leadership teams.
• Manage automation projects, including supervising in‑house, contract, and OEM resources to ensure on‑time and on‑budget delivery.
• Collaborate with internal Supply Management and OEM to generate scopes and/or detailed performance statements of work for new assets.
• Actively collaborate with Business Units in continuous improvement efforts.

Required Skills

• Solid knowledge of all applicable safety regulations related to controls and automation solutions.
• Solid understanding and experience with electrical control system design software (EPLAN preferred).
• Demonstrated leadership and development of highly skilled controls and automation technicians.
• Experience overseeing lean control panel fabrication processes (leveraging EPLAN Pro Panel or similar).
• PLC and HMI programming experience (Studio5000 for PLC and Maple Systems for HMIs preferred).
• Ignition or similar SCADA system experience is a plus.
• Solid knowledge of troubleshooting equipment problems and performing complex system tests.
• Creative thinking skills.
• Detail-oriented personality.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with other members of the development team and Sonoco leadership.
• Operates effectively in high-pressure environments.
• Hands‑on approach.

Educational Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Controls Engineering or similar equivalent experience.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this role is from $126,310 to $133,740, plus an annual target bonus of 7.5% of base salary.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Various company-paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans, including life, personal accident, and disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.