Senior Strategic Automation Project Manager

Smithfield Foods; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithfield Foods in Sioux City, IA is seeking a Strategic Automation Project Manager to lead automation and capital engineering across facilities. You will shape the technology roadmap, manage budgets, and partner with operations, IT, and vendor teams to deliver scalable solutions.

The role requires a strong engineering background in industrial automation, PLCs, robotics, SCADA, and MES, with 8+ years of experience and willingness to travel up to 50%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation Engineering with 8+ years of relevant experience.
• 2+ years of team management or project leadership.
• Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, instrumentation, and automation networks.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, IIoT, and MES preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement automation and capital engineering roadmaps.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, OEMs, system integrators and stakeholders.
• Lead automation modernization initiatives: PLCs, robotics, motion control, and distributed software platforms.
• Manage projects from concept through commissioning and handoff; oversee budgets, schedules, and procurement.
• Provide design oversight for controls, electrical, instrumentation, and networking standards.
• Coordinate with vendors/contractors to ensure on-time delivery and quality.

Skills

Automation engineering

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Industrial automation

Robotics integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

Siemens TIA Portal

SCADA platforms (Ignition/Wonderware/FactoryTalk)

Robotics (Fanuc/ABB/KUKA)

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The Value You’ll Bring

As part of our Engineering organization, you will lead the development and execution of strategic automation and capital engineering initiatives that modernize manufacturing capabilities, improve equipment performance, and support long-term business growth. You will serve as a key technical leader responsible for aligning engineering investments with enterprise objectives while driving the successful delivery of complex automation projects across multiple facilities. The Strategic Automation Project Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of automation, controls, robotics, and equipment modernization projects from concept development through commissioning and operational handoff. This position combines strategic project leadership with strong engineering expertise in industrial automation systems, controls architecture, equipment integration, and manufacturing technologies. The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering mindset, practical experience with automation technologies, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project execution. Success in this role requires balancing technical excellence, project governance, budget performance, and stakeholder alignment to deliver scalable engineering solutions that support the organization's future manufacturing vision.

What You’ll Do

• Automation Strategy: Develop and execute a multi-year automation engineering roadmap supporting facility expansion, equipment modernization, advanced manufacturing initiatives, and evaluation of emerging technologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, OEMs, system integrators, and external stakeholders to define requirements, establish project scope, and implement automation solutions.
• Technical Leadership: Serve as the lead for automation and controls modernization initiatives involving PLCs, robotics, motion control, machine vision, industrial software platforms, and integrated production systems.
• Project Execution: Lead automation and capital engineering projects from concept through commissioning and closeout, managing budgets, schedules, resources, procurement activities, risks, and overall project performance.
• Engineering Design & Standards: Provide oversight for controls architecture, electrical, instrumentation, networking, SCADA, HMI, automation system design, testing, validation, and standardization to ensure long-term supportability.
• Vendor & Contractor Management: Coordinate engineering consultants, OEMs, contractors, system integrators, and internal project teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Capital Planning & Reporting: Develop business cases, capital requests, ROI analyses, project justifications, and executive-level updates while monitoring performance against scope, budget, safety, quality, and schedule objectives.
• People Leadership: Drive a positive employee experience through coaching, employee development, mentoring, and leadership.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

What We’re Seeking

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline and 8+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, VFDs, motion control, robotics, and industrial networks.
• Basic coding and scripting experience with the ability to understand software integration, databases, data collection systems, APIs, and industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with automation project execution including controls design, equipment procurement, installation management, commissioning, and startup support.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, controls narratives, and automation architecture documentation.
• Strong understanding of capital project management principles, engineering design reviews, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, IIoT technologies, MES systems, and digital manufacturing platforms preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support engineering initiatives.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• PMP certification, PE license, or equivalent project management and engineering credentials preferred.
• Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix and Siemens TIA Portal experience.
• Ignition, Wonderware, FactoryTalk, or similar SCADA platforms.
• Robotics integration experience (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa).
• Machine vision and inspection systems.
• Industrial Ethernet and OT network design.
• Equipment OEM management and system integration oversight.
• Electrical power distribution and control panel design exposure.
• Manufacturing data systems and Industrial IoT platforms.
• Capital planning and engineering portfolio management.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming and controls logic development in platforms such as Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or similar automation systems.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The expected pay range for this position is $115,000 - $150,000 annually.

Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based