Director of Plant Automation and Controls
Leidos
Oxnard, CA
Description We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we're with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real. Position Summary Reporting to the Operations Head, the Director of Plant Automation and Controls has the overall responsibility for engineering and management for all Olde Thompson facilities. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Plant Automation and Controls to lead our engineering and automation initiatives across our food manufacturing operations. This role is pivotal in driving innovation through automated production systems, smart distribution, and data-driven process optimization. You will play a key role in scaling our manufacturing capabilities while ensuring food safety, quality, and operational efficiency. Position Responsibilities
- Engineering Leadership: Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across automation, controls, packaging, and distribution systems.
- Capital Project Support
- Provide Engineering support to create OMP 1 investment thesis, OMP 2 Project Charter documentation from conception to approval
- Conduct Pre-Engineering Evaluations to FEL.1 level Conceptual Engineering
- Prepare Basic CAD Layouts, project costings and Scope Documents in order to be able to align stakeholders on progress decisions for capital projects
- Create and implement strategy to drive engineering capex and project management.
- Accountable to deliver Capex and Project Management portfolio of projects on cost, schedule and scope through the phases of the projects.
- Develop and revise capex and project management policies and procedures
- Risk Management. Identify risk associated with the projects and develop mitigation strategies.
- Strategic Planning. Create and manage improvement plans to enhance infrastructure and operational efficiency.
- Automation Strategy: Develop and implement automation strategies for production lines, packaging systems, and material handling to improve throughput and reduce downtime.
- Design and improve warehouse layouts to optimize space utilization and workflow efficiency.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate automation and warehouse management systems (WMS).
- Lead projects related to warehouse expansion, equipment upgrades, and new technology implementation.
- Smart Manufacturing: Drive the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies including IoT, SCADA, PLCs, and MES systems to enable real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, IT, and Plant Operations to align engineering initiatives with business and regulatory requirements.
- Continuous Improvement: Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
- Compliance & Safety: Ensure all engineering solutions meet food safety standards (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF) and support a culture of safety and compliance.
- Engineering Standards
- Assist with creating and organizing centralized Engineering Standards for North America
- Participate in Standards committee
- Conduct Annual Review of standards and identify gaps and next steps
- Provide subject matter expertise with technical capabilities for Engineering areas across all facilities.
- 10+ years of engineering experience in food manufacturing or a related industry, with 5+ years in a leadership role.
- Proven expertise in industrial automation, robotics, and distributed control systems.
- Strong knowledge of food processing equipment, packaging automation, and plant utilities.
- Experience with SCADA, WMS software, PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), and MES platforms.
- Familiarity with GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulatory frameworks.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 40% of the time is required.
Posted 2025-07-30
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