Manufacturing Automation Controls Engineer

**THIS POSITION WILL BE BASED ONSITE IN OUR MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN LINCOLN, RI. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION.**

Since 1750, Finlays has served as the industry’s trusted leader in the supply of tea, coffee, and botanicals extracts to the world’s beverage brand owners. Through engaged employees and a continuous improvement mindset, Finlays has grown this legacy in the North and South American regions. Finlays Americas delivers safe and consistent “fit for purpose” quality products and services, meeting regulatory requirements and customer expectations by being an integrated, customer-centric solution provider.

Role Summary

James Finlay operates manufacturing sites worldwide (USA, UK, China, Kenya, Sri Lanka & Argentina). The primary role will be within the USA; however, there may be international co-operation with other Finlays’ sites around the world to help develop a consistent approach to Engineering Standards.

James Finlay America is embarking on an ambitious growth plan to expand production to meet the requirements of our customer base. This expansion requires highly automated process and packaging equipment to provide a lean and productive operation.

The new role will involve working as the subject matter expert within project teams, to ensure Finlay’s automation and electrical requirements are met by our equipment suppliers, and that they seamlessly integrate with existing or future planned systems.

The purpose of this role will be to lead the development, management, and continuous improvement of Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control systems within Finlays’ USA sites, and will therefore require travel within the USA to support our sites. There is also a requirement to help develop and manage automation and electrical standards for the USA and possibly beyond.

Key Responsibilities – Control & Automation for Finlays’ USA sites

• Drive compliance to Health & Safety systems, policies, reporting & procedures within the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control function.
• Manage the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control Assets to ensure that they function to their designed capacity, functionality, and are periodically refurbished to their original condition to ensure optimal life, safe operations, reliability, and availability.
• Ensure strict adherence to the relevant engineering standards and specifications.
• Periodically audit the asset and documentation to obtain maximum standardisation of spares and new factory installations on the site.
• Ensure that Critical spares are identified and carried as stock, keeping track of stocking costs and ensuring working capital is minimised.
• Define equipment criticality using a risk matrix.
• Define and manage the overall Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control maintenance strategy for the factories.
• Develop the capability of the Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical & Control maintenance strategy for our factories.
• Ensure adequate change control and documentation is in place. Including drawing and equipment records.
• Ensure that a medium to long term program is in place to mitigate risks associated with ageing infrastructure and equipment redundancy.

Key Responsibilities – Projects

• Manage supplier and contractor performances to achieve key performance objectives in particular health and safety.
• Provide input and advice where needed into the development of process control, instrumentation, Electrical, and automation across Finlay’s business units.
• Be prepared to work with Group Manufacturing & Engineering Team, develop and maintain a Finlay’s Process Control, Instrumentation and Automation Standard. This to Include relevant Health and Safety standards.
• As part of any major project team, lead the specification, design, and development of new “fit for purpose” process instrumentation, controls, and automation systems for relevant projects. This will require working with external design engineers and Finlay’s teams of project managers, purchasing managers and other internal customers to ensure cost and time constraints are achieved on relevant projects.
• Support and advise on the management of relevant suppliers, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide an ad Hoc trouble shooting service when required.
• Support the implementation of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) best practises.
• Ensure proper management of and compliance by contractors, within the Unit, through fair allocation of work, proper documentation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Drive total compliance to Health & Safety systems, policies, reporting & procedures within the Technical Department area and throughout the team having signed the HEALTH AND SAFETY responsibility form as proof of your full understanding and commitment to your Health and Safety responsibilities.
• Support, Implement and adhere to all food safety and Quality managements system’s requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Engineering discipline related to process control and automation.
• Ability to work in five IEC-1131 program languages (instruction list, structured text, ladder diagram, function block diagram, and sequential function chart)
• Working experience with Siemens platforms (PLC & DCS)
• Knowledge of problem-solving tools e.g. RCA, FTA, A3 etc.
• Ability to manage and develop continuous process control systems in a continuous production environment such as refining (Petrochem, sugar, food oils/fats, paper etc).
• Knowledge of DCS and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge in asset management, including preventative maintenance, is desirable.
• Good understanding of food manufacturing processes and quality management.
• Knowledge of EHS management is essential.
• In-depth understanding of problem-solving tools e.g. RCA, FTA, A3 etc.
• Hands on Experienced in safe design, specification, operation, maintenance and capital work with processes, instrumentation, plc automation with SCADA and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) that are commonly found on continuous process sites. Proven ability to manage and develop process control systems in a continuous production environment such as refining (Petro chem, sugar, food oils/fats, paper etc

Skills

• Strong leadership, influencing and advocacy skills.
• Ability to influence from a distance and without the benefit of direct line management authority.
• Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written (e.g., written reports, presentations etc.). Fluency in English is essential, foreign language capability is desirable.
• Ability to adapt to diverse cultures.
• Root Cause Analysis and problem solving
• Proven skills in working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Performance management & coaching of others.

Finlays Americas is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, perceived disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, as defined by applicable law. Finlays employs individuals that are 18 years of age or older.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship