Corporate Automation Engineer

Owned by 250+ family farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is a food and beverage company that has offered innovative, award-winning, high-quality dairy products since 1965. Our progressive cooperative's success is based on a commitment to quality in everything we do that extends to every stage of operations, from our farms to the consumer. Our product offerings include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.

The Corporate Automation Engineer holds a pivotal role within our organization, identifying opportunities to leverage automation across our facilities, overseeing control systems and instrumentation in production processes and developing best practices. Responsibilities encompass team management, control system design and implementation, equipment standards, and ensuring compliance in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. It demands a unique combination of engineering expertise, project management, and leadership to align projects with our company's objectives. Furthermore, the Engineering Automation Manager leads a team to enhance productivity, quality, and sustainability while ensuring the efficient and safe operation of production equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive automation strategy aligned with production goals, quality standards, and safety regulations.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization and automation improvements.
• Lead the design, development, and implementation of control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and data acquisition solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate automation technologies into existing production lines.
• Ensure projects adhere to regulatory guidelines and industry best practices. food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Manage a team of controls engineers, automation technicians, and related personnel.
• Provide mentorship, training, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Provide guidance through standards and process definitions for the maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of automation equipment to maximize equipment uptime while reducing non-value-add activities.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams for preventive and corrective maintenance on control systems.
• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to implement validation and documentation procedures.
• Establish and maintain relationships with automation equipment suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
• Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies in food and beverage automation.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, including schedules, budgets, resource allocation, and risk assessments.
• Plan and execute engineering automation projects, including system upgrades, installations, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA), GMPs, and HACCP principles.
• Manage the engineering automation department budget, allocate resources effectively, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Education Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory/management experience.
• Extensive experience in controls engineering, automation, and instrumentation within the food and beverage manufacturing industry.
• Proficiency in PLC programming, HMI development, and SCADA systems.

Knowledge & Skills - Required

• Proficient in project management methodologies and tools.
• Familiarity with electrical schematics, power distribution, controls, PLC logic controls, HMI's, and industrial controls.
• Experience with digital & analog temperature, pressure, flow, speed, and weight measurement.
• Proficiency in troubleshooting PLC-based control systems; preferably Rockwell Software.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment layout optimization, and quality control.
• Familiarity with industrial control networks and configuration (Ethernet, Device Net, DH+).
• Experience with Allen Bradley motor controls and VFDs.
• Leadership experience with a focus on team management, development, and collaboration.
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities to liaise with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, quality standards, GMPs, and HACCP principles.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Ability to modify equipment layouts for efficiency and automation integration.
• Compliance with relevant industry regulations and standards.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong focus on compliance requirements and quality standards.

Preferred

• Dairy and/or food processing knowledge, especially Mixing & Blending, Retort operations, automatic packaging, mechanics of systems and equipment, and sanitation and safety.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent
• Working knowledge of various software programs, including RSLogix, Factory Talk, WonderWare, PLC Programming, HMIs, and Drive.

Confidentiality

The Engineering Automation Manager is entrusted with confidential information relative to production methods, customers and company strategy requiring a high degree of confidentiality.

Management Responsibility

The Engineering Automation Manager manages both internal and external Engineering staff.

Work Environment

This role involves duties in both office and manufacturing environments, requiring adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and appropriate PPE when in the manufacturing plant.

Pay: $140,000-$170,000/year

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)