This role is aligned to the Coffee Operating Unit
Location: 3109 Plant Water Road, Knoxville, TN 37914
Shift & Schedule:
This is a salaried position supporting a flexible schedule based on business needs. The role is expected to support operations across all shifts and is typically scheduled for four 10-hour days.
The Senior Automation Controls Engineer serves as the site technical expert for automation, controls, and industrial systems, driving the reliability, optimization, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing and material handling equipment. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and IT to maximize equipment uptime, improve system performance, and support future automation initiatives.
The Senior Automation Controls Engineer will lead automation projects from concept through implementation, establish engineering standards, mentor technical teams, and leverage data-driven decision-making to improve safety, quality, and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Automation & Controls Engineering
- Serve as the site subject matter expert for PLCs, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networks, motion control, robotics, drives, and automated equipment.
- Develop and maintain automation standards, control philosophies, and engineering best practices across the facility.
- Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC and HMI applications while supporting equipment upgrades and system enhancements.
- Partner with OEMs, system integrators, and vendors to commission new equipment and improve existing automation systems.
- Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex electrical, controls, instrumentation, and automation issues to minimize downtime.
- Evaluate emerging automation technologies and recommend improvements that increase reliability, throughput, and operational efficiency.
Reliability & Continuous Improvement
- Drive equipment reliability through root cause analysis (RCCA), preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Analyze equipment performance, downtime trends, and system data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and maintain preventive maintenance strategies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and troubleshooting documentation.
- Lead and participate in Kaizen events, TPM initiatives, 5S activities, and other Lean Manufacturing efforts.
- Support capital projects including equipment specification, design review, installation, startup, commissioning, and validation.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to maintenance technicians, controls technicians, and operations personnel.
- Train production and maintenance teams on new automation systems, controls, and equipment functionality.
- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, IT, and external vendors to achieve site performance objectives.
- Support project planning, resource coordination, and execution while ensuring projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget.
Safety & Compliance
- Champion a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), electrical safety standards, and company policies.
- Ensure automation systems comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in safety audits, risk assessments, and equipment safety reviews.
Data & Performance
- Monitor and analyze key performance indicators including equipment uptime, OEE, fault history, and maintenance metrics.
- Utilize data analytics to identify trends, predict failures, and drive continuous improvement.
- Maintain accurate documentation including electrical drawings, PLC backups, network architecture, SOPs, and maintenance records.
Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.