Senior Controls Engineer – Food & Beverage

Avanceon Limited; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K contributions

Flexible hours

Remote work options

Job summary

Avanceon is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to support a major food & beverage customer, guiding multi-site process automation across batching, packaging, and CIP systems. You will act as the technical right hand to the Operations Manager, leading project execution and mentoring engineers.

Ideal candidates bring 7+ years in industrial automation within food processing, with hands‑on PLC/SCADA/HMI expertise and willingness to travel 10–25%.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in industrial automation, with strong experience in food & beverage manufacturing environments.
• Deep knowledge of food processing systems (e.g., batching, mixing, sanitation, temperature control, line integration).
• Hands‑on proficiency in PLCs (Allen‑Bradley preferred), SCADA platforms (FactoryTalk, Aveva, Ignition), and HMI development.
• Proficient in AutoCAD Electrical and control panel design best practices.
• Strong communication skills—you can bridge the gap between IT, plant floor, and corporate engineering teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer sites (10–25%).

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of control system solutions for one of our most valued food & beverage customers.
• Serve as a technical authority on food process automation—including process/batching, CIP, packaging, and utilities.
• Architect PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems (primarily Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Aveva).
• Drive innovation through practical application of Industry 4.0 and IIoT technologies.
• Act as the customer’s trusted engineering partner—engaging with plant and corporate stakeholders across multiple locations.
• Lead FATs, site commissioning, and startup activities nationwide.
• Mentor and support other engineers on the project team.
• Collaborate closely with the Operations Manager to ensure successful delivery and build long‑term trust.

Skills

Industrial automation

Food & beverage

Communication

Travel readiness

HMI development

Batching & CIP

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

FactoryTalk

Aveva

Ignition

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

All Jobs > Senior Controls Engineer – Food & Beverage

Avanceon is hiring a Senior Controls Engineer to support a long-term, strategic food & beverage customer relationship. This is a key technical role focused on multi-site process automation integration, working across batching, packaging, and CIP systems.

You’ll serve as the technical right hand to the Operations Manager, leading project execution while also acting as a mentor and subject matter expert to the broader engineering team. Ideal candidates will bring hands‑on controls experience in food processing environments and a passion for delivering solutions that are smart, scalable, and operations-friendly.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design and execution of control system solutions for one of our most valued food & beverage customers
• Serve as a technical authority on food process automation—including process/batching, CIP, packaging, and utilities
• Architect PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems (primarily Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Aveva)
• Drive innovation through practical application of Industry 4.0 and IIoT technologies
• Act as the customer’s trusted engineering partner—engaging with plant and corporate stakeholders across multiple locations
• Lead FATs, site commissioning, and startup activities nationwide
• Mentor and support other engineers on the project team
• Collaborate closely with the Operations Manager to ensure successful delivery and build long‑term trust

Requirements

What You Bring

• 7+ years in industrial automation, with strong experience in food & beverage manufacturing environments
• Deep knowledge of food processing systems (e.g., batching, mixing, sanitation, temperature control, line integration)
• Hands‑on proficiency in PLCs (Allen‑Bradley preferred), SCADA platforms (FactoryTalk, Aveva, Ignition), and HMI development
• Proficient in AutoCAD Electrical and control panel design best practices
• Strong communication skills—you can bridge the gap between IT, plant floor, and corporate engineering teams
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer sites (10–25%)

Why This Role Is Unique

• Work on high‑impact systems that directly affect the national food supply
• Join a tight‑knit, high‑trust customer team that values long‑term partnerships over transactional projects
• Influence enterprise‑wide system design through your technical expertise
• Support a customer with modern plants, forward‑thinking leadership, and ongoing innovation initiatives

Why Avanceon?

Yes, we offer all the usual benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401K contributions, etc., but what makes Avanceon different from the rest?

Most importantly, we have cool and talented people. Avanceon associates and the culture they create are what make us great – for each other, and our customers.

We also have flex hours, work‑from‑home opportunities, a casual dress code, a playful and professional work environment, book clubs, social gatherings, oh yeah, let’s not forget professional growth too, freedom to work the way you work, diverse customers and industries (you'll never be bored!), easy and fun ways to donate to charities, were parties mentioned? …And that's just the beginning of the list!

Note about Remote Associates: At Avanceon, we value our remote associates just as much as our on‑site team members. Our company culture is inclusive and supportive, and we make sure that all of our remote employees feel like they are part of the team, whether that is virtually or traveling to join us in the office. If you're looking for a remote position where you'll be treated like a valued team member, then Avanceon is the perfect place for you.

Who is Avanceon?

We are an engineering firm that helps manufacturers make their factories faster, with higher quality, and less waste. We work within industrial control systems to cause machinery within a manufacturing plant to work in the best possible way. Our clients come from many different verticals (food, consumer goods, drinking and wastewater – not together! and much more). You can imagine that this provides incredible amounts of varied and fascinating experiences for our associates. We are a stable and growing business that, thanks to our awesome employees, has even been named a Top Workplace in Philly for 7 years in a row!

We believe our differences enrich our growth and success. Avanceon is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values and welcomes diversity among our associates. We are an equal‑opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.