Sr. Automation Engineer

Flora Food Group; Hugoton (KS); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Flora Food Group is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineer for our Hugoton, Kansas dairy facility. You will own the automation landscape, program Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA, and lead end-to-end automation projects from design through commissioning.

In this greenfield setting, you’ll coordinate with suppliers and global teams, manage virtualization and network infrastructure, and implement preventive maintenance to sustain production quality and uptime.

Qualifications

• Experience leading automation projects in manufacturing, preferably dairy or food production.
• Strong PLC/SCADA/HMI skills with a focus on reliability and uptime.
• Ability to coordinate with global teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Program, configure, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA on Rockwell platform to keep production running.
• Lead automation capital projects from design through commissioning, coordinating with suppliers and global teams.
• Manage server virtualization and industrial network infrastructure for stability and security.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation faults in real time to minimize downtime.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs and documentation for automation assets.

Skills

Rockwell Automation PLC programming

HMI programming

SCADA systems

Industrial networking

Project leadership

Troubleshooting (food manufacturing)

Tools

Rockwell RSLogix/Studio 5000

Server virtualization

Industrial networking hardware

Job description

Location : On-Site at our facility in Hugoton, Kansas

Why this role matters

In your first year, you will establish and own the automation function at Flora Food Group’s new dairy manufacturing facility in Hugoton. Your work will ensure smooth, reliable production of processed milk, creamers, and cream cheeses by delivering robust automation systems and resolving faults quickly. This role is critical to building a foundation for operational excellence and innovation in dairy processing, directly impacting the quality and consistency of the food we bring to kitchens. Your expertise will shape how automation supports our mission to create better food, every day.

What you’ll do

• Program, configure, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems on the Rockwell Automation platform to keep production running efficiently. This is more than hands on- we need a strategic leader to own the end to end process.
• Lead automation capital projects from design through commissioning, coordinating with suppliers and global teams to deliver on time and on budget.
• Manage server virtualization and industrial network infrastructure to ensure system stability and security.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation faults in real time to minimize downtime and maintain product quality.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs and documentation for all automation assets.

Performance

You will own the full automation landscape at the Hugoton site, driving uptime and system reliability inch by inch. Your data-driven approach will reduce production interruptions and support continuous improvement initiatives. By delivering projects and maintaining systems with precision, you will enable the plant to meet its production targets and uphold Flora Food Group’s standards for better food.

Care

This role reports to the Plant Engineering Manager and works closely with operations, maintenance, and global engineering teams. You will foster collaboration across functions to ensure automation solutions are safe, compliant, and sustainable. Your leadership in preventive maintenance and lifecycle management will protect critical assets and support long-term plant performance.

Passion

You are a hands-on automation expert who loves solving complex challenges in food manufacturing. Your curiosity about dairy processing and commitment to food safety drive you to innovate and raise the bar. You take pride in crafting reliable systems that support the taste, nutrition, and functionality of our products, contributing to a more delicious and sustainable future.

About you

You bring strong technical skills in Rockwell Automation PLC and HMI programming, server virtualization, and industrial networking. You have experience leading automation projects and troubleshooting in food or dairy manufacturing environments. You are a self-starter who thrives in a greenfield setting, balancing daily operational demands with strategic delivery. Your communication skills help you collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.

You are genuinely interested in food culture and curious about how consumer behavior and future food trends shape innovation. You understand that strong brands are built by anticipating what’s next in taste, nutrition and functionality, and by translating insight into meaningful consumer experiences.

Where this could lead to

This role typically leads to senior leadership positions within plant engineering or automation management, with opportunities to influence multi-site automation strategies. Over time, you could shape broader digital transformation initiatives across Flora Food Group’s manufacturing network.

What’s next

If this opportunity sounds exciting, we’d love to hear from you.

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