Automation & Controls Leader

Location: Lima, Ohio, United States

Overview PepsiCo is home to some of the world’s most iconic brands—Pepsi, FritoLay, Gatorade, Quaker—and powered by one of the most advanced supply chains on the planet. We innovate, we collaborate, and we continuously raise the bar in safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. If you’re energized by solving complex problems and shaping the future of manufacturing, this is where you belong The Automation & Controls Leader is the plant’s go to expert for automation, controls, and factory floor network systems. You’ll own the strategy, reliability, and continuous improvement of all control systems—ensuring they operate safely, efficiently, and in alignment with plant and business goals. Beyond your home site, you may also support a pod of plants, providing technical leadership, coaching technicians, and influencing automation strategy across multiple facilities. This is a high impact role for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering, operations, and innovation. Responsibilities Automation & Controls Leadership Serve as the primary inplant authority for automation and control systems Ensure peak performance of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, drives, and industrial networks Align automation strategy with plant goals for safety, quality, productivity, and cost Own the design, performance, and cybersecurity posture of the factory floor network Manage hardware/software lifecycle and obsolescence planning Lead automation projects from concept through commissioning Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Operations to ensure seamless execution Diagnose and resolve complex automation issues Identify and implement solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and safety Maintain automation standards, documentation, and change management processes MultiPlant (Pod) Support Provide technical leadership to sister plants within the pod Coach and develop automation technicians across sites Partner closely with Technical Services Managers to elevate automation capability Compensation and Benefits: The expected compensation range for this position is between $80,200 - $134,250. Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process. Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 10% of annual salary paid out annually. Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement. In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) Proven experience leading automation/controls in a manufacturing environment Strong expertise in PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, and control system architecture Experience managing automation projects endtoend Ability to influence across multiple sites and functions Experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing preferred Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity and OT/IT integration Leadership experience with technical teams Strong problemsolving skills in highavailability environments Valid U.S. work authorization and driver’s license EEO Statement Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy. Please view our Pay Transparency Statement

Responsibilities

Automation & Controls Leadership Serve as the primary inplant authority for automation and control systems Ensure peak performance of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, drives, and industrial networks Align automation strategy with plant goals for safety, quality, productivity, and cost Own the design, performance, and cybersecurity posture of the factory floor network Manage hardware/software lifecycle and obsolescence planning Lead automation projects from concept through commissioning Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Operations to ensure seamless execution Diagnose and resolve complex automation issues Identify and implement solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and safety Maintain automation standards, documentation, and change management processes MultiPlant (Pod) Support Provide technical leadership to sister plants within the pod Coach and develop automation technicians across sites Partner closely with Technical Services Managers to elevate automation capability Compensation and Benefits: The expected compensation range for this position is between $80,200 - $134,250. Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process. Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 10% of annual salary paid out annually. Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement. In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) Proven experience leading automation/controls in a manufacturing environment Strong expertise in PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, and control system architecture Experience managing automation projects endtoend Ability to influence across multiple sites and functions Experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing preferred Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity and OT/IT integration Leadership experience with technical teams Strong problemsolving skills in highavailability environments Valid U.S. work authorization and driver’s license