Automation & Programming Manager - Milk Specialties Global

At Milk Specialties Global, our focus is to create high-quality ingredients designed to optimize health and nutrition. We are passionate and dedicated people. Each day, we collectively explore new, innovative ways to enhance product performance and value through our broad human and animal nutrition portfolios. We offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance as well as a healthy 401(k) company match program.

The Automation and Programming Manager is responsible to oversee and troubleshoot all process and controls and assist in any networking issues through local support or network-based applications. This position is supports multiple locations as available through online networking.

Essential Duties: 

• Perform duties related to preventative, routine, and emergency maintenance of the control/networking systems. Verifies and backs up all changes in controls logic for restore if needed. Available for program needs on for 24-hour support as available. Typical support according to local facility hours.
• Designs, codes, tests, and debugs moderately complex programs, and modify existing programing to keep the process running. Changes code in the programming as needed to achieve the correct outcome of the process. Verifies that the change such as flow rates and or levels are maintained throughout the process without having a balance tank run over on to the floor causing issues with the effluent discharge.
• Analyzes and revises system logic. Works with plant support to promote efficiencies related to programming logic as needed to maintain the system at peak performance and minimize down time.
• Troubleshoot process equipment as needed. Performs trouble shooting out in the field (or through local representation) to verify that the issue at hand has been resolved. This task is performed so that verification can be made that the system out on the field matches the programming.
• Makes changes to programing as needed and monitors the change to make sure the final goal is achieved.
• Keep Local Management informed of potential issues. Keeps track of any changes that has been made to any of the programming in the system, informs the Manager and or Supervisor know of the changes.
• Work with outside vendors and contractors – on projects for the facility.
• Wonderware graphic design and management of the operator interface, install and maintain instrumentation calibrations and develop interlocks and alarms with messaging for all processes within each unit operation.
• Develop a system with proximity switches, safety sensors, and other technologies to get processes more user friendly and easier for operations to train new employees, and cross train internally to get more consistent production and CIP’s with automatic type running format programs with less manual interventions.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of programming experience or equivalent skills in a food processing plant.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, can trouble shoot programming issues on the network as it relates to the process
• Education Requirements: Associates Degree or Equivalent in Automation, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or similar
• Prior dairy experience preferred