Summary

The Principal Automation Engineer serves as the technical authority for automation and controls systems across Chobani manufacturing operations. This role provides strategic, hands on technical leadership to define automation architecture, standards, and best practices that enable safe, reliable, scalable, and secure plant operations.
As a senior individual contributor, the Principal Automation Engineer influences outcomes across multiple sites through design leadership, technical governance, and deep expertise. This role partners closely with Engineering, Operations, IT, Cybersecurity, and Capital Project teams to deliver world class automation solutions that support Chobani's growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

Automation Leadership
• Serve as the automation and controls design authority across Chobani manufacturing sites.
• Define, own, and maintain enterprise automation standards, including PLCs, SCADA/HMI platforms, industrial networks, historians, and OT system architectures.
• Establish best practices for automation lifecycle management, documentation, testing, commissioning, and long term support.
Architecture & Technical Governance
• Lead automation architecture reviews for large capital projects, expansions, and first of kind implementations.
• Provide technical approval and guidance for automation designs developed internally or by third party integrators.
• Partner with IT and Cybersecurity teams to advance OT/IT integration while ensuring system security, resilience, and compliance.
Capital Projects & Strategic Initiatives
• Act as a senior technical resource on major automation capital projects, reducing technical risk and ensuring scalable, sustainable designs.
• Partner with OEM and integrators to assure successful commissioning.
• Support greenfield and brownfield projects from concept through startup and stabilization.
Advanced Problem Solving & Risk Management
• Serve as the escalation point for complex, high impact automation and controls issues.
• Lead technical root cause investigations related to automation system failures, reliability events, or performance constraints.
• Develop long term corrective actions that improve system robustness across sites.
Mentorship & Capability Building
• Mentor Senior Automation Engineers and Automation Managers through technical coaching and design reviews.
• Develop automation playbooks, standards documentation, and technical training resources.
• Elevate enterprise automation capability by sharing knowledge and best practices across the organization.

Requirements

The requirements of this position include:
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in automation, controls, and industrial systems within manufacturing environments.
• Deep expertise in PLC programming, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networking, and automation system integration.
• Proven experience developing and governing automation standards and architectures across multiple projects or sites.
• Strong ability to influence without formal people management authority.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders.
Preferred
• Experience supporting large scale capital projects, multi site manufacturing environments, or greenfield builds.
• Knowledge of OT cybersecurity principles and OT/IT convergence.
• Advanced experience with data historians, SQL databases, and manufacturing data systems.
• Background in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.

The salary range for this full-time position is $154,000.00 - $242,000.00, + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Chobani provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision coverage, disability insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, and tuition reimbursement. To help save for the future, all employees are eligible for a 401k match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay. To support growing families, we provide fertility and childcare assistance, and 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment. In addition, we provide wellness resources which include an employee assistance program, fitness discounts, a wellness reimbursement, on-site gym access (certain locations) and a monthly wellness newsletter to connect you with resources and timely information. We offer various types of paid time of including: 120 hours of paid time off, 11 holidays, and paid volunteer time off.