Controls Engineer
Job Location:
Yorkville, IL - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
BrightFarms is The Place to Grow!
At BrightFarms were on a mission to revolutionize the way leafy greens are grown. But we dont just want to grow great tasting greens we want them to do good as well: for the planet for the health of people and for the well-being of our employees. We give BrightFarmers the tools training support and opportunities they need to do better for themselves and the world every day. Because when you do good for your people they do good for the world.
BrightFarms is a national leader in the booming indoor farming industry transforming how produce is grown and delivered with its expanding network of eight high-tech sustainable hydroponic farms. From seed to leaf we grow lettuce smarter with less space no pesticides and protected inside so its better for the planet and way better for humans. BrightFarms fresh lettuce options from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits are available in more than 4500 retail stores across the East Coast Midwest and South.
We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support and enhance automation systems across our hydroponic lettuce greenhouse operations. This is a site based and traveling role that spans growing systems facility infrastructure and packaging equipment ensuring optimal performance efficiency and product quality from seed to ideal candidate will help design maintain and improve control systems that integrate environmental controls irrigation harvesting and automated packaging processes. Experience with agricultural controls systems is preferred.
Specifically you will:
Control System Design & Development
- Design and develop control systems for automated equipment and processes including packaging automation and greenhouse growing infrastructure
- Program and configure PLCs HMIs and SCADA systems
- Develop electrical schematics panel layouts and I/O lists
- Integrate sensors actuators and IoT devices into centralized control systems
- Work closely with all engineering groups support teams and manufacturing to assure accurate integration and on time completion of options modifications and new designs
Programming & Integration
- Write test and debug PLC programs using ladder logic structured text or function block
- Integrate control systems with robotics motion control and third-party equipment
- Configure industrial communication networks (Ethernet/IP Modbus Profibus etc.)
- Support MES or higher-level system integration when applicable
Troubleshooting & Support
- Travel or provide remote support to one of our three sites (TX GA IL) or future farms to diagnose and resolve control system issues in a timely manner
- Participate in a 24 hour on-call rotation with other team members to support farms during night and weekend shifts
- Provide technical support to maintenance and operations teams
- Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions
- Maintain system backups and documentation
- Create documentation for new controls systems and processes
Commissioning & Continuous Improvement
- Lead or support commissioning of new equipment and system upgrades
- Independently set milestones budgets and timelines for project execution
- Effectively communicate project health and changes in status to leadership team members and aid in adjusting master schedule priorities
- Coordinate and communicate with vendors to support system integration procurement and troubleshooting activities
- Monitors assigned project status and reports progress and obstacles to management as required to complete tasks on schedule and within budget
- Validate system performance through testing and troubleshooting
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency reliability and safety
- Implement upgrades and modifications to existing control systems
The Ideal Candidate:
- Based on site 3-5 days per week at one of our existing facilities (Macon GA; Yorkville IL; or Waco TX) with routine travel to the other two facilities
- Travel Requirements: 50% - 75% travel
- 8 years in industrial automation or controls engineering
- Bachelors degree in electrical engineering Controls Engineering Mechatronics or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Experience with PLC programming (e.g. Allen-Bradley Siemens or similar)
- Familiarity with HMI/SCADA systems
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Strong understanding of electrical systems and industrial automation principles
- Ability to work across mechanical electrical and software systems
- Demonstrates the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with a wide range of groups and individuals
- Proactively communicate delays concerns and critical issues to appropriate stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with agricultural or greenhouse control systems
- Experience with multiple PLC platforms including Allen-Bradley Siemens Schneider Electric and other industrial automation systems
- Knowledge of environmental control systems such as Hoogendorn Priva and greenhouse HVAC irrigation fertigation systems
- Experience with industrial networks (Ethernet/IP Modbus etc.)
- Programming experience (e.g. Python structured text ladder logic)
- Exposure to robotics or automated packaging systems
Work Environment:
- Combination of greenhouse (warm humid) and industrial production settings
- Hands-on work with equipment control panels and field devices
- May require occasional off-hours support for critical systems
BrightFarms is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individuals age race color religion or creed national origin or ancestry sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation gender gender identity physical or mental disability veteran status genetic information ethnicity citizenship or any other characteristic protected by law.
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
BrightFarms® greens are crunchy, pesticide-free, and guaranteed fresh. Grown responsibly in nearby greenhouses and harvested at peak freshness for a long-lasting crunch.
