Electrical Controls Manager, Engineering Services

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery®, Otis Spunkmeyer®, and Oakrun Farm Bakery®. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

The Electrical/Controls Engineer, Engineering Services, is responsible for delivering technical expertise in reliability and project management to support bakery operations. This role involves managing electrical and controls aspects of capital projects, ensuring safety, schedule adherence, and budget compliance, while also enhancing equipment reliability and mitigating downtime. The engineer will design, develop, and troubleshoot electrical control systems, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and provide technical support and training. Ideal candidates are highly driven, results-oriented, and possess strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

Engineering

• Design and develop electrical control systems and components with appropriate documentation.
• Develop detailed electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts.
• Program and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servos and other control devices.
• Conduct feasibility studies and technical reports.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project success.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.
• Perform system testing, debugging, and validation.
• Provide technical support and training to maintenance and operational staff.
• Is directly responsible for all elements of project management from BOD to commissioning and handover and ensures that all project objectives are met on schedule, safely and within budgetary limits.
• Utilizes systematic approach for project management and promotes the use of tools for continuous improvement.
• Works across Regional boundaries and provides support to local Bakery Operations and Maintenance Teams to ensure the timely completion of small budget projects.
• Interacts with Business Units and Division Supply Chain teams, along with Corporate Support Services, to share best practices, upgrade common work processes, and provide feedback on vendor and equipment performance and input for continuous improvement.
• Research new control designs and hardware, test and implement ideas for improvements, and collaborate with other engineers to ensure best practices are leveraged across the organization.

Maintenance

• As Subject Matter Expert, generates engineering solutions to repetitive failures and other problems that adversely affect plant operations.
• Assists in management of equipment supplier related issues causing inefficiencies, regulatory, safety and/or quality problems.
• Assist Mechanics and Electro-Mechanics in troubleshooting and repair of electrical or controls related failures, e.g. on batching and continuous process control systems, their networks, AC/DC and servo drives, etc.
• Works across multiple locations, both on site and remotely, to assist with equipment troubleshooting and repair.

Qualifications:

• B.S. Engineering in Electrical or Controls Engineering or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience of 5 to 7 years of Maintenance and/or Project Management in food engineering.
• AutoCAD Proficiency is preferred. 
• Working knowledge of control system projects including Machine layout, control drawings, P&ID, system interconnection drawings and the understanding of local and distributed control. Proficient in the use of basic to advanced programming design and configuration concepts using A/B-Rockwell, Siemens and Mitsubishi software packages.
• Knowledge of asset care and maintenance management.
• Successful leadership over diverse types of capital projects from simple to complex. Ability to manage projects from feasibility thru start up and performance validation.
• Knowledge of current personnel safety, food safety, environmental and regulatory compliance issues related to manufacturing and in the food industry.
• Experience applying engineering knowledge cross-functionally to support new food development and commercialization in specialty foods categories.
• Expertise in Microsoft Office skills a must.
• Excellent communications and presentation skills
• Maintain valid passport, visa or other credentials for international travel

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.