Senior Engineer, Electrical Controls

Hawthorne Gardening Co.; Fort Madison (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live Total Health program and benefits

401K match up to 7.5%

Stock discount 15%

Maven Family Planning benefits

Adoption/fertility assistance up to $0

Job summary

Scotts Miracle-Gro is seeking a Sr. Electrical & Controls Engineer to serve as the site’s lead authority for electrical systems and power distribution.

You will lead a team of electricians and technicians, manage large capital projects, and ensure infrastructure is safe, modern, and compliant. The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing with deep experience in electrical systems, Allen-Bradley PLCs, and NFPA-70E safety.

Qualifications

• The candidate holds a degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent master-level experience with a proven track record.
• 10+ years in manufacturing or industrial settings focused on electrical systems and controls.
• Hands-on experience installing, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting electrical systems.
• Strong PLC programming and industrial networking knowledge.
• Solid understanding of NFPA-70E and electrical safety standards.
• Experience leading and coaching tradespeople in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap for electrical and control system upgrades.
• Provide technical support to plant operations and minimize disruptions.
• Oversee power distribution including MCCs and panels.
• Mentor the electrical team and drive continuous learning.
• Manage ladder logic updates and network communications for PLCs.
• Champion electrical safety audits and permit processes.
• Bridge Operations and IT for industrial networks and hardware upgrades.
• Drive equipment reliability using TPM and Lean methodologies.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Allen-Bradley PLC programming

NFPA-70E safety

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

Industrial networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master-level technical experience

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Industrial networking

Job description

Job Summary

Here at Scotts Miracle-Gro there is no such thing as a typical day. Our culture is constantly energized by new and exciting growth opportunities and at a rapid pace.

We are looking for a Sr. Electrical & Controls Engineer to serve as the site’s primary technical authority for electrical systems and power distribution. You will partner with a high-performing team of electricians and technicians, manage large-scale capital projects, and ensure our infrastructure is safe, modern, and compliant.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap for electrical and control system upgrades. You will own the capital project requests from conception through implementation.
• Operations Support: Provide ongoing technical support for plant operations, including troubleshooting complex equipment and instrumentation to minimize production disruptions.
• Power Distribution & Infrastructure: Oversee the installation and integration of critical power systems, including MCCs, Power Distribution Panels, and facility-wide electrical grids.
• Team Mentorship: Serve as the technical resource and coach for our electrical discipline, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Controls & PLC Management: Act as the Subject Matter Expert for Allen Bradley PLCs. You will manage ladder logic updates, maintain backup systems, and ensure seamless communication across network protocols.
• Safety Excellence: Champion plant safety regulations (NFPA-70E, Arc Flash, LOTO, and Energized Work Permits). You will conduct audits and issue permits to ensure all electrical work meets the highest compliance standards.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as the bridge between Operations and IT to manage industrial networks and hardware upgrades.
• Project Execution: Utilize TPM and Lean methodologies to drive equipment reliability and decrease downtime through smart engineering solutions.

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (or a related discipline) OR equivalent master-level technical experience with a proven track record of success.
• 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment, specifically focused on electrical systems and controls preferred.
• Proven hands‑on expertise with industrial electrical system installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Substantial proficiency with Allen Bradley PLC programming, troubleshooting, and industrial networking.
• Comprehensive understanding of NFPA-70E and electrical safety standards.
• Experience leading and coaching tradespeople or technicians in a fast‑paced environment.
• A “find a way” attitude toward complex electrical challenges and a desire to improve KPIs through better engineering.

The starting budgeted pay range for this role will generally fall between $99,700.00 - $117,300.00 per year.

Scotts will consider various factors in determining the actual pay including your skills, qualifications, experience, and geographical location. For remote roles where the final candidate resides in Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oregon or Washington, state required pay thresholds will be factored into base salary.

Benefits & Perks

• Live Total Health program provides you with options to align to your personal needs. Selections range from medical, dental and vision coverage for you, your spouse/domestic partner and dependents to an outstanding wellness reimbursement program to an unbelievable 401K match (up to 7.5%) as well as a 15% discount on company stock and much more
• We provide access to Maven Family Planning and up to $30,000 to accommodate for adoption, fertility and surrogacy.

We know our talent is our most precious asset and your unique development contributes to our organization’s success now and in the future.

Career growth at our company is not always a ladder. It’s much more like a rock climbing adventure. Grow through exploration and experiences rather than a predictable linear path.

Join a company with a strong belief in giving back to the communities where we live and work.

Employee Resource Groups

• Scotts Women’s Network
• Scotts Black Employees’ Network
• Scotts Veterans Network
• Scotts Young Professionals
• Scotts Pride Network (GroPride)
• Scotts Associates for a Greener Earth (SAGE)
• Scotts Family TREE
• Associate Boards

Scotts is an EEO Employer, dedicated to a culturally diverse, drug free workplace.

EEO/AA Employer/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Notification to Agencies:

We have a shared passion for service and volunteerism and believe participating in community service benefits our communities and strengthens our team.