Job Title:                      Controls Engineer
Department:                Maintenance/Engineering
Reports To:                   Maintenance Manager
Site:                             Hazelwood, MO
FLSA Status:                 Exempt

Cérélia's newly established Frozen Breakfast Business Unit – US Waffle - is driving an ambitious growth strategy, backed by two manufacturing facilities, Liberty, SC, and Hazelwood, MO. To effectively support the rapid scaling of operations at our state-of-the-art Hazelwood facility, US Waffle is seeking a dynamic and skilled Controls Engineer to join our team in Hazelwood, MO.

This role is responsible for supporting and advancing the plant’s automation, controls, and electrical systems to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable manufacturing operations.

The Controls Engineer will own PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems across the facility, ensuring uptime, troubleshooting complex issues, and supporting new equipment integration and capital projects. This role is critical in driving automation performance, reducing downtime, and building technical capability within the maintenance team.

This position is part of the maintenance team and is expected to operate as a hands-on contributor, actively supporting daily plant operations. The role will work side-by-side with maintenance technicians on the floor, including troubleshooting equipment issues and occasionally performing mechanical and electrical work as needed to support uptime.

Primary Responsibilities:

Report to work as scheduled every day, and demonstrate GREAT attendance.
Troubleshoot and resolve electrical and controls-related issues to minimize downtime and support production needs.
Own and support all plant control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and SCADA systems
Own and support all plant control systems, including PLCS, HMIs, VFDs, and SCADA systems.
Actively support the maintenance team on the floor as part of daily operations
Occasionally perform mechanical and electrical work (“turn a wrench”) to support uptime and team effectiveness
Develop, modify, and optimize PLC and HMI programs to improve equipment performance, reliability, and efficiency
Support and lead controls integration for new equipment and capital projects, including:
Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
Startup and commissioning support
System validation and performance optimization
Standardize controls architecture and documentation across the plant
Maintain and update electrical schematics, network layouts, and controls documentation
Partner with OEMs (e.g., ovens, packaging systems) to support troubleshooting, upgrades, and system improvements
Ensure proper backup and version control of all PLC and HMI programs
Support plant network related to controls systems (OT network), ensuring secure and reliable connectivity
Identify and implement automation improvements to reduce labor, improve throughput, and enhance product quality
Support root cause analysis (RCA) efforts for recurring downtime and implement permanent corrective actions
Train and support maintenance technicians in basic controls troubleshooting and system understanding
Collaborate with maintenance and operations teams to ensure equipment readiness and minimal disruption to production
Ensure all controls systems comply with safety standards, GMPs, and food safety requirements
Support integration of systems with ERP/plant systems (e.g., Plex) where applicable
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to automation, controls, and system performance
Perform other duties as assigned or of a similar nature or level

Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required (Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field preferred)
•    5+ years of experience in controls engineering within a manufacturing environment (food/CPG preferred)
•    Strong experience with PLC programming (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell strongly preferred)
•   Experience with HMI and SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Wonderware, or similar)
•    Strong knowledge of: Industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, etc.). Drives (VFDs), motors, and electrical systems
•    Troubleshooting electrical and automation systems in a live production environment
•    Demonstrated hands-on experience supporting maintenance teams, including mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
•    Experience supporting capital projects, including equipment installation and commissioning
•    Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings
•    Experience working with OEM equipment and vendors
•    Familiarity with food safety, GMP, and regulated manufacturing environments
•    Experience with ERP systems (Plex experience a plus)
•    Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
•    Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
•    Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
•    Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams
•    High sense of urgency and accountability
•    Ability to train and develop maintenance personnel on controls systems

Direct Reports

This role may initially operate as an individual contributor but will have the opportunity to build and lead resources over time.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a Full Time Exempt 40 hour per week position, and it may require working additional hours depending on the needs of the business.

TRAVEL

This position may require minimal travel.

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