Location: Bluffton, IN
How will you fit in the big picture? The Associate Manager, Process Controls supports reliable, efficient manufacturing at the Bluffton plant, which produces products including Dot's Pretzels and Pirate's Booty in a high-speed, complex environment. In this role, you will execute defined scopes of automation, packaging, and control system projects and provide hands-on technical support for plant electrical and control systems. You will collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, equipment suppliers, and external project teams during design, installation, testing, startup, troubleshooting, and optimization. Your work will help strengthen system performance, reliability, safety, documentation, and cybersecurity while advancing practical, incremental improvements across processing and packaging operations.
What will you do? - Technical Delivery: Execute assigned engineering tasks and technical delivery for control and packaging system projects, ensuring alignment with established designs, specifications, engineering standards, architectural requirements, and project timelines.
- Automation and Controls: Design, develop, integrate, and optimize automated process and packaging systems using technologies such as PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, servo systems, industrial networks, digital controls, instrumentation, motor controls, distributed control systems, and control safety systems.
- Plant Technical Support: Provide technical leadership and support to Operations and Maintenance teams for troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem resolution, and optimization of electrical controls, automation, networking, power distribution, industrial computer systems, and related manufacturing equipment.
- Project Execution: Support equipment checkout, testing, installation, and startup; coordinate with internal and external project teams, contractors, vendors, engineers, manufacturing supervision, and production employees; and engineer practical solutions for assigned scopes.
- Continuous Improvement: Lead or participate in improvement efforts that enhance equipment reliability, system performance, maintainability, and productivity, including practical use of new technologies and replacement of obsolete or less productive systems.
- Documentation and Software Control: Maintain accurate, current, and secure electrical drawings, control-system software, specifications, and technical records for assigned systems.
- Safety, Security, and Compliance: Apply applicable food-industry, construction, electrical, safety, and cybersecurity requirements, including NFPA 70E and plant standards, when developing and supporting technical solutions.
- Technical Analysis: Prepare or support cost estimates, feasibility assessments, specifications, alternatives, and recommendations for capital and operational solutions.
- Operational Response: Serve as a technical resource for process control and automation systems and respond to critical operational issues outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as required to support continuous manufacturing operations.
Minimum Requirements Education: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology, including Electrical or Mechatronics, or equivalent work experience.
Experience: 3+ years of relevant experience in Operations, Engineering, automation, process controls, or a related field.
- Advanced knowledge of electrical controls, automation, instrumentation, industrial networking, power systems, PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, control safety systems, and motor controls.
- Experience supporting manufacturing equipment and operations, including processing systems such as batching, blending, and baking, as well as packaging, controls, and mechanical/electrical systems.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment and system issues, perform root cause analysis, develop alternatives, and implement practical technical solutions for existing and newly installed systems.
- Ability to communicate technical problem resolutions and learning points and to support internal customers, suppliers, contractors, and external technical resources.
- Basic to intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and AutoCAD.
- Working knowledge of project management activities such as purchase requisitioning, contractor time monitoring, internal orders, and project timelines.
- Ability to work onsite in a manufacturing environment and occasionally work shifts outside the primary assignment.
- Ability to comply with personal protective equipment and Good Manufacturing Practices requirements. The manufacturing environment contains multiple allergens.
Benefits and Perks At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.
- Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
- Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match.
- Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable.
- Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility.
Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $103,200 to $129,000 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance-based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well-being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey's benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com
