Senior Automation & Controls Engineer - Food & Beverage

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Automation & Controls Engineer leads automation and controls engineering design for EPC projects across food & beverage, consumer products, and industrial facilities, based on-site in Kansas City, MO. This role owns PLC/HMI programming, controls narratives, and vendor Factory Acceptance Testing from front-end design through startup and commissioning. The Senior Automation & Controls Engineer manages a team of engineers and designers while building long-term client relationships.

What We Offer (Benefits & Compensation)

• Base salary of $140,000-$160,000, commensurate with experience.
• Full-time, on-site position based in Kansas City, MO.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Direct leadership role on major EPC automation and controls projects with growth into client and business development work.
• Support for continuing education and professional licensure, including PE licensing.

Key Responsibilities – Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

• Lead automation and controls engineering design across EPC food & beverage, consumer products, and industrial projects, managing a team of engineers, specialists, and designers. Oversee PLC, HMI, Batch, MES, and virtualization software deliverables from concept through commissioning.
• Prepare controls design deliverables including instrument/device lists, I/O lists, controls narratives, and control panel specifications. Lead vendor selection, procurement, and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for control panels and equipment.
• Review P&IDs with process engineers to define controls scope and select instrumentation for temperature, pressure, flow, level, and control valve applications. Lead electrical design deliverables including 480VAC power distribution and installation drawings.
• Lead onsite startup and commissioning activities, coordinating with construction and field personnel to resolve installation issues. Travel to job sites for surveys, installation support, and startup leadership (25-30% travel).
• Develop project estimates and budgets using tools such as Integrated Architecture Builder (IAB), SIL Solver, Bluebeam, and Visio. Build client relationships and support business development for new automation and controls opportunities.

Qualifications – Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

• Bachelor's degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, plus FE exam completion and 7 years of electrical engineering experience, or a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with 6 years of experience. EPC project and automation & controls experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of electrical equipment design per ANSI and IEEE standards, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and standard engineering documentation tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading discipline design teams and delegating tasks across large-scale EPC projects. Strong critical thinking, attention to detail, and quality-review capability for engineering documents.
• Ability to travel 25-30% and obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC). Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• On-site position based in Kansas City, MO; must be available for job site travel and startup support.

Preferred Qualifications – Senior Controls & Automation Engineer

• Hands-on experience with Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms; experience with GE, Modicon, Opto22, Mitsubishi, or Triconex platforms a plus.
• SCADA experience with Factory Talk, Wonderware, or Ignition software for local and distributed systems. MES design and implementation experience with PTC ThingWorx, Ignition/Sepasoft, or Parsec TrakSYS a plus.
• Knowledge of automation and controls design standards including NFPA, ISA, IEC, IEEE, ISA/IEC 61511, ISO13849, and UL508A. Machine safety risk assessment and SIF/SIS process safety compliance experience a plus.
• Experience with PlantPAX and PackML platforms preferred. Familiarity with SISTEMA, CCW, BatchSIM, and PlantSIM tools desired.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred for senior-level project leadership.

Physical Requirements – Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

• On-site role requiring regular presence at manufacturing plants and job sites, including standing, walking, and climbing during installations and startups. Standard PPE required in industrial environments.
• Ability to travel 25-30% of the time for site surveys, installation support, and startup/commissioning activities, with occasional extended stays during startup phases.
• Must be able to work in industrial plant environments with exposure to noise, temperature variation, and machinery. Occasional lifting of equipment/tools (specific weight limit not provided - placeholder, confirm before posting) .
• Full-time, on-site schedule based in Kansas City, MO, with flexibility during commissioning and startup periods.
• Must be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) for site access.