Packaging Controls Engineer - Day Shift

Location: This is a full-time, direct-hire, on-site position in Glendale, AZ. Relocation assistance is offered, so candidates anywhere in the U.S. who are willing to relocate to the Phoenix/Glendale area are encouraged to apply.

About the role: You will work on-site in the plant on high-speed beverage filling and packaging lines, programming and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLCs on running production equipment. This is a plant-floor controls engineering role, not a software, QA, or test-automation role.

Packaging Controls Engineer – Day Shift

Schedule: 2-2-3 rotation, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM (Day shift, 12-hour shifts)
Base Salary: $100,000–$130,000
Annual Bonus: 20% target bonus
Relocation Assistance: Available

What You Must Bring

• Hands-on PLC programming, not just troubleshooting: you write and modify ladder logic yourself, ideally Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix in Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000.
• 4+ years of industrial controls or automation experience on high-speed production lines (beverage, food, packaging, CPG, pharmaceutical, or similar).
• Strong troubleshooting of PLCs, HMIs (FactoryTalk or similar), VFDs (PowerFlex or similar), servo/motion, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP).
• Willingness to work a 12-hour 2-2-3 day rotation, 6:00 AM–6:00 PM.

This is a salaried engineering role. It is not an entry-level position and not a maintenance technician or parts-replacement role.

Position Overview

A leading high-speed beverage manufacturer is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to provide dedicated automation and controls support at its Glendale, Arizona facility.

This position serves as the on-shift controls expert, providing Tier 1 and Tier 2 troubleshooting support throughout the plant. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and quality to resolve equipment issues, improve reliability, increase throughput, and execute automation-focused improvement projects, while mentoring and training maintenance technicians and operators.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary on-shift controls and automation expert.
• Provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 troubleshooting for automated processing, filling, canning, conveying, and packaging equipment.
• Diagnose PLC, HMI, VFD, servo, instrumentation, motion-control, and industrial-network issues and restore production safely.
• Identify recurring equipment problems and implement permanent corrective actions, including PLC and HMI program changes.
• Develop and execute controls projects that improve safety, quality, reliability, and throughput.
• Participate in the Management of Change process for controls, equipment, and process modifications.
• Maintain PLC and HMI program backups, controls documentation, electrical drawings, and change records.
• Support commissioning, controls upgrades, new installations, and system integration projects.
• Provide technical leadership, training, and mentorship to maintenance technicians and operators.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in engineering technology, industrial automation and controls, or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.
• At least four years of industrial automation or controls experience in a high-speed manufacturing environment.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, and technical documentation.
• Ability to independently diagnose complex controls problems and execute automation projects.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work across multiple plant departments.

Preferred Experience

• KHS, Krones, Sidel, or comparable high-speed beverage processing, filling, canning, or packaging equipment.
• Beverage, brewery, bottling, canning, or food manufacturing operations.
• Controls upgrades, commissioning, FAT/SAT, and continuous-improvement projects.
• Training or mentoring maintenance technicians.

Compensation

• Base salary of $100,000–$130,000, based on experience.
• 20% target annual bonus.
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.
• Comprehensive company benefits package.