Sr Engineer

The Sr. Engineer - Advanced Automation Program Leader position provides leadership and support for development and implementation of continuous improvement opportunities using advanced process control solutions, including model predictive control (MPC).   The successful applicant will lead research, testing, and deployment initiatives to look “outside the norm” for automation innovations to gain production. Additionally, the selected candidate will be responsible for the preparation of studies, reports, schedules, budgets, inspections, and bid requests, evaluation of bid submittals, direction and coordination of contractors, and project closeouts and analysis. This role serves as a consultant to plant automation initiatives, providing technical information and recommendations that assist with various projects. The job requires excellent production, technical and analytical skills, organizational and communication skills, and will involve travel and on-site time at various plants.

Key focus areas of responsibilities and job activities:

• Program leader for Lamb Weston’s APQC program.
• Oversee deployment of APQC on new processing lines, scope, schedule, and budget management for internal and external resources/vendors.
• Drive APQC utilization across the enterprise, including monitoring APQC utilization from line to line and supporting plant and corporate teams in increasing utilization.
• Drive ever-increasing returns from our investment in the advanced controls area.
• Develop and maintain an advanced automation program structure that outlines and facilitates research and development of new capital projects, as well as support of current advanced automation initiatives and programs.
• Work with plant and corporate teams to drive consistency across plants in their execution of APQC automation efficiency projects.
• Lead the APQC “best practices” program to drive sustainability and continued improvements in Lamb Weston’s advanced automation efficiency goals.
• Serve as key liaison between advanced controls solution providers and Lamb Weston with respect to implementation and on-going support of the APQC solution.
• Development of detail and summary KPIs to articulate APQC status and actionable data.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide leadership for Lamb Weston’s advanced process control MPC program across Lamb Weston’s processing facilities.  This includes project initiation, commissioning, and ongoing oversight of the program.
• Drive continuous improvement of the MPC program to ensure continued execution as well as identification of new areas of potential savings. 
• Drive MPC program utilization to ensure maximum value is realized from the asset.
• Lead training of plant personnel in MPC programs, reporting program status to the Senior Leadership Team, and execution of program best practices.
• Identify processes ripe for advanced control technologies to maximize utilization of plant resources to improve plant production.
• Use advanced analytical and reporting techniques to assess and report performance of automation solutions.

• Effectively establish and meet deadlines for assigned projects and tasks.

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field
• Manufacturing plant experience or related project work experience is required.
• Demonstrated leadership experience leading programs and teams is required.
• Excellent verbal and written and communications skills, problem solving skills, and proven project and task management skills.
• Experience with MPC systems strongly preferred.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation hardware and control systems strongly preferred.
• Specific training with data analytics disciplines and related fields, or equivalent job experience.
• 6-Sigma certification (black/green belt) or similar related data analysis experience and training preferred.
• Excellent analytical skills required.
• Strong PC skills to include Windows, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Experience in Minitab or related analytical software desired.
• Ability to travel 50%+ of the time.  Travel will include visits to plant locations in WA, OR, ID, MN, LA, and Albert, Canada, in addition to occasional overseas international travel.

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive.  Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts

• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program

• Paid Time Off

• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance

• Family-Friendly Employee events

• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.