Senior Controls Engineer

Hungry for a career that’s as rewarding as it is delicious? 

At Aspire Bakeries, we don’t just bake breads, cookies, and cakes - we create foods that bring people together. From La Brea Bakery® artisan breads to Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies, our products are enjoyed by millions of people every day. And behind every bite are talented manufacturing and support teams who take pride in their work and our food. 

We’re looking for hard-working people who will bring integrity, creativity, and a passion for excellence to everything they do - whether that’s on the bakery floor, in the office, or supporting customers. In return, we offer a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth - where your contributions matter and your career can rise as high as our bread loaves! 

With 13 commercial bakeries across North America and a reputation as an industry leader, Aspire Bakeries is rising together with our people and our customers to be the best all-around bakery solution. If you’re ready to grow with us, we’d love to hear from you.

• Culture – Our culture thrives on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for excellence. We support team members, empower growth, and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Health & Wellness – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus company-paid life insurance and additional voluntary options to fit your needs.
• Work-Life Balance – Paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and holidays so you can recharge and spend time on what matters most.
• Financial Security – Competitive retirement plans, plus short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Growth & Development – Opportunities to build skills, grow your career, and develop expertise through Aspire Bakeries’ learning and development programs.
• Flexibility & Support – HSA and FSA plans to help you manage everyday expenses.
• Recognition & Rewards – Performance incentive plans that celebrate achievements across sales, bakery performance, and individual contributions.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to join our team at our Swedesboro, NJ bakery. As a Senior Controls Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for designing, upgrading, and sustaining industrial automation and control systems that directly impact safety, quality, throughput, and operational excellence in a high-speed food manufacturing environment.

This is a hands-on role driving controls projects from concept through commissioning while providing long-term technical support for 24/7 operations.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $125,000 - $135,000

Core Accountabilities (What You’ll Be Doing)

• Design, standardize, and sustain robust PLC-based automation systems for high-speed bakery manufacturing operations
• Lead control system upgrades and migrations from obsolete platforms to modern, scalable architectures
• Serve as the technical authority for PLCs, HMIs, motion control, robotics, and industrial networks
• Troubleshoot complex automation, electrical, and networking issues to minimize downtime and improve reliability
• Manage controls-related projects from scope development through commissioning and startup
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT/OT, and OEMs to deliver integrated solutions
• Establish and maintain controls standards, documentation, and long-term system serviceability

Minimum Qualifications (What You Bring to the Table)

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, mechatronics, or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 5 years of controls engineering experience in an industrial manufacturing environment
• Advanced PLC programming experience with Allen Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix platforms
• Proficiency in structured text and ladder logic programming
• Hands-on experience with high-speed automated machinery and continuous processes
• Strong troubleshooting skills across PLC, HMI, motion, robotics, and industrial networks
• Ability to support occasional after-hours troubleshooting, commissioning, or system upgrades

Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success)

• Food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing experience
• Experience with multi-axis motion control and robotic systems
• HMI development experience (FactoryTalk ME/SE preferred)
• Familiarity with Siemens, Omron, or Mitsubishi PLC platforms
• Exposure to SCADA, MES, SQL databases, or OT networking environments

Aspire Bakeries LLC values the contribution each Team Member brings to our organization. The final determination of a successful candidate’s starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or the industry. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed in this specific job description. Additional pay may be determined for those candidates that exceed these specified qualifications and requirements. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. For union-represented postings, wage rates and ranges are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

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, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.