Principal Engineer IV, Automation

Date: Jul 28, 2025

Location: Hiram, OH, US, 44234-1806

Company: Great Lakes Cheese

Job Overview

The Principal Engineer IV, Automation is a capable engineering leader and project manager.  They are responsible for leading a strategy to evaluate risks associated with obsolescence of various assets for the plant network. This includes identifying criticality of process and packaging equipment, controls, and utility systems.  They will be responsible for creating capital plans for prioritizing, organizing, and executing projects to directly address and mitigate those risks.

Job Responsibilities

  • Develop a sustainable obsolescence management strategy to reduce risk of major downtime events or safety issues due to failed components with no available replacement. 
  • Create and maintain a list of assets through the network that provides criticality of the machines along with the risks of aging and obsolescence of the equipment including, but not limited to, automation and electrical control systems.
  • Drive collaboration with the OEM and internal GLC resources to determine most cost-effective way to complete obsolescence management projects including OEM hardware and software modifications and on-site support.
  • Review electrical control drawings and documents for accuracy ensuring they meet minimum specifications.
  • Establish programs for extending the life of existing equipment through refurbishing programs.
  • Drive detailed reports on obsolete parts and replacement options within equipment identified as having obsolescence risk.
  • Continually re-evaluate the network for new parts that are going obsolete and reaching end of life.
  • Establish and maintain long range capital plan to address obsolescence through the network of facilities.
  • Create a standardized workflow to evaluate obsolescence mitigation options to buy new, upgrade, extend through refurbishing programs and third party sellers. 
  • Develop budget and timetable.
  • Create recommendation and drive alignment to solutions.
  • Project Management of engineering assignments and initiatives.
  • Collaborate with controls engineers and reliability team to execute each obsolescence project.
  • Establish a process for immediate response situations when parts are not available and replacement options are needed.
     

Required Education and Experience

  • Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering from an accredited institution and a minimum of 6 years engineering experience. 
  • Proficient in Automation and Electrical Control Systems, design, and programming.
  • Must be legally authorized to work for a company in the United States without sponsorship.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Project, Power Point)
  • Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time.
     

Preferred Education and Experience

  • Project management development, administration and execution. 
  • 8-10 years of experience in Electrical Controls Engineering.
  • Knowledge in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office including Excel, Visio, Project, and Word.
  • Demonstrated willingness to teach and train other stakeholders on the shop floor. Have a natural curiosity about our processes and experience in investigating process deviations.
  • Strong technical, managerial, leadership, cost consciousness, organizational, and communication skills taking projects from concept development to commercialization stages.
  • Excellent verbal & written communications skills. Interpersonal and facilitation skills necessary to interface with and influence all levels of the organization with the ability to lead people and multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Strong problem solving and hands on trouble shooting skills. 
  • Excellent attention to detail on multiple simultaneous tasks.
  • SAP experience.
  • MES experience.
  • OSHA 10hr Safety Certification.
  • Lean manufacturing and CI experience.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed across multiple sites, office setting, warehouse floor (cold environment) and in various locations as needed.
• Occasional exposure to industrial operations including: temperature extremes from approximately 35ºF to 100ºF; noise levels in excess of 85 dB; moisture and moving machinery.

EEOC & Disclaimer

Great Lakes Cheese is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.