Short Intro and About the Job

The Sr. Automation Engineer is a key member of the Maintenance Team at Danone North America's City of Industry (COI) facility and serves as an active member of the Plant Process Improvement Team. This role is responsible for improving manufacturing performance, equipment reliability, line efficiency, productivity, food safety, and operational excellence through the design, implementation, optimization, and management of automation, controls, instrumentation, and industrial networking systems.

Working closely with Senior Plant Leadership, the Senior Automation Engineer will direct and manage the Controls & Automation Team, providing both technical and people leadership while driving automation strategy and execution across the facility. This position serves as the site's subject matter expert for PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, instrumentation, process controls, automation architecture, and manufacturing data systems. The role combines hands-on engineering expertise with leadership responsibility to ensure reliable plant operations and the successful delivery of continuous improvement and capital projects.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills with the ability to direct, motivate, mentor, and develop technical team members while effectively collaborating with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, R&D, and Plant Leadership to achieve business objectives.

At Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams. We are currently looking to hire a Sr. Automation Engineer based in City of Industry, CA!

Key Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Direct and manage the Controls & Automation Team, providing technical leadership, coaching, and development.
• Establish team priorities and ensure resources are effectively allocated to support production, maintenance, and project objectives.
• Collaborate with Plant Leadership to develop and execute automation strategies that support business goals.
• Serve as the site subject matter expert for PLCs, HMI/SCADA systems, instrumentation, industrial networking, and automation technologies.
• Lead the design, implementation, maintenance, and optimization of automation and control systems.
• Develop and maintain automation standards, system documentation, and best practices.
• Drive initiatives that improve safety, reliability, quality, productivity, and line efficiency.
• Analyze production and equipment performance data to identify opportunities for improvement and reduce downtime.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions for recurring issues.
• Manage automation and controls projects from concept through commissioning, ensuring scope, budget, and schedule objectives are achieved.
• Coordinate activities with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, contractors, and vendors.
• Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and implementation of new technologies.
• Provide technical support for production and maintenance teams.
• Develop and deliver automation and controls training programs.
• Support troubleshooting efforts and provide on-call technical assistance as needed.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, food safety requirements, plant safety standards, and the Danone Code of Ethics.
• Promote a safe working environment and support regulatory and internal compliance initiatives.
• Ensure automation systems are designed and maintained to meet operational, quality, and food safety requirements.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with exposure to moderate noise and temperature variations.
• Work schedules could include nights, weekends and/or holidays to provide the ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems

Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of IWS system and its pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits:

The salary range for this role is: $125K to $135K. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.

About You

About You:

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we're looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline required.
• Minimum 5 plus years of automation and controls engineering experience in food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading automation projects from concept through implementation and commissioning.
• Proven experience directing technical teams, contractors, and system integrators.
• Experience with direct and indirect pasteurization systems, including Tetra VTIS systems, is preferred.
• Strong background in continuous improvement, manufacturing optimization, and operational excellence.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong expertise in industrial automation, controls engineering, instrumentation, and manufacturing process control systems.
• Advanced knowledge of Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLC platforms, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PLC-5, SLC 500, and Studio 5000. Siemens PLC experience is preferred.
• Experience designing, programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with industrial networking technologies, including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, IO-Link, AS-i, and DeviceNet.
• Strong understanding of process instrumentation, variable frequency drives (VFDs), motion control systems, and electrical control systems.
• Experience with manufacturing data systems, historians, SQL databases, reporting tools, and data-driven performance analysis.
• Working knowledge of SCADA and HMI platforms, including Ignition, FactoryTalk, and Wonderware/AVEVA systems.
• Experience developing automation architectures, control strategies, standards, and supporting documentation.
• Ability to analyze production and equipment performance data to identify opportunities for improving reliability, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Visio, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), ISA-95 standards, SAP integration, and Manufacturing Operations Management systems is preferred.
• Experience with direct and indirect pasteurization systems and food manufacturing processes is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of food safety, GMPs, regulatory compliance, and quality requirements within a food and beverage manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead automation projects, manage system integrators and contractors, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

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