Controls Engineer

Company: Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
Location: Orrville
Posted on: February 13, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Prairie Farms is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative, founded in 1938 by Illinois dairy farmers. We represent over 600 independent family farms and produce a wide range of dairy and food products, including milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt. We are committed to quality, sustainability, and community support, with a goal of returning value to our farmer-owners and operating with integrity. Summary/Objective The Controls Engineer is a member of the Engineering department and is responsible for supporting controls and automation projects. This role provides on-site controls and automation support, with a focus on installing new manufacturing systems and the upgrade of existing systems within our manufacturing facilities in Orrville, Ohio. Benefits Thrift retirement plan with generous company contributions Excellent health benefit plans including medical, dental, and vision coverage Company paid Short Term Disability and Life Insurance Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Health Savings Account (HSA) Paid Time Off Paid Holidays Employee Assistance Program Essential Functions Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Department Duties Focus Activities Design, develop, install and commission plant controls and automation systems including PLC programming (Allen Bradley/Modicon), HMI development, & MES data collection Provide technical support for controls and automation systems to ensure reliable and efficient plant operations Design and specify plant control system architectures, including control panels, hardware components and industrial communication protocols Develop, implement, and enforce process control standards to ensure consistency, reliability, and compliance across manufacturing systems Coordinate with and provide technical direction to third-party controls engineering partners and system integrators Manage and maintain SCADA systems including Wonderware and Citect platforms Support integration and use of SAP in relation to manufacturing controls and automation systems Work alongside maintenance departments at each facility to improve overall performance of the facility – improving the design and process controls of key plant systems, production lines, utility management and warehousing Support manufacturing staff to develop technical SOPs for the purpose of teaching and training operators on new processes Other duties as assigned Required Duties of all Associates Manage all company business according to the cultural objectives of the company (values and behaviors) Understand and execute the principles of the company’s Operational Excellence program driving the right behaviors, standards and continuous improvement across all operating entities Participate in cross-functional teams as required to advance the business interests of the company Compliance with all company and regulatory policies/guidelines relating to associate safety, food safety and food quality Competencies Demonstrable analysis and design skills in: Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, HVAC and Electrical controls Advanced Ladder Logic Programming within Allen Bradley, Modicon PLC’s, VFD’s, Servo motors is required Familiarity with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) Skilled in Wonderware system platform applications, (Developer) Experience with Citect / FT View SE and Modicon programing, preferred MES Wonderware environment Experience with .NET programming environment, preferred Experience with SQL Databases, preferred Excellent communication and organization skills, including written and oral presentation skills Strong time management skills Must demonstrate excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills Confidentiality is a must Must be insurable by company standards Skilled in MS Office (Excel, MS Word, Power Point), AutoCAD LT, Vision Comfortable with engineering schematics P&ID’s and blueprints Basic business and financial acumen At ease in fast-paced and dynamic environment Project management Position Type/Expected Hours of Work Typically, Monday – Friday Ability to work across shifts and flexibility in working hours required Additional hours and days (holidays, weekends) as required Education and Experience Required : Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Automation/Controls Must have a minimum of 5 year’s experience working within a Controls & Automation engineering role in the Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods or similar industry Work Environment Works both in office and manufacturing environments The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Travel As needed for training or meetings 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 associate for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the company. EEO Statement Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants for employment, recruitment, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, pay, benefits, lay-off, demotion or termination of employment will be made without consideration of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military status, ancestry, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable federal, state or local law.

Keywords: Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., Lorain , Controls Engineer, Engineering , Orrville, Ohio