Senior Automation & Software Engineering Manager

About the Role

A leading US beef processing organization is seeking an experienced Senior Automation & Software Engineering Manager to lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automation, industrial software, controls, and manufacturing technology across its operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role at the intersection of engineering, software, automation, and manufacturing operations. The successful candidate will lead a team of engineers and technical specialists responsible for improving plant performance through automation, data, software, controls, robotics, manufacturing systems, and digital technologies.

The role will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Food Safety, IT, and senior leadership to identify opportunities where technology can improve safety, throughput, yield, quality, labor efficiency, reliability, traceability, and overall plant performance.

We are looking for someone who understands that successful industrial technology is not simply about deploying software or automation-it is about building systems that work reliably in a demanding, high-volume food manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Automation & Controls Leadership

• Lead the strategy and execution of industrial automation across beef processing operations.
• Provide technical leadership for PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, machine vision, sensors, industrial networks, and automated production equipment.
• Establish standards for automation architecture, controls development, programming, documentation, commissioning, and lifecycle management.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of new automation technologies.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability, uptime, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive, labor-intensive, hazardous, or inconsistent processes.
• Provide technical leadership during major equipment installations, line upgrades, expansions, and capital projects.
• Ensure automation systems are designed with appropriate consideration for safety, cybersecurity, maintainability, scalability, and operational resilience.

Software & Manufacturing Systems

• Lead the development and integration of software solutions supporting manufacturing operations.
• Oversee manufacturing applications, MES/MOM, SCADA, production data systems, equipment interfaces, databases, APIs, and other plant-floor software.
• Develop and maintain a scalable architecture connecting equipment, controls, manufacturing systems, enterprise applications, and data platforms.
• Identify opportunities to replace manual processes with robust software and automated workflows.
• Lead integration between OT and IT environments while maintaining appropriate security and reliability.
• Establish software development standards, coding practices, version control, testing, documentation, and deployment processes appropriate for industrial environments.
• Support the development of real-time production dashboards, analytics, performance monitoring, and decision-support tools.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including AI, computer vision, advanced analytics, robotics, digital twins, and IIoT where they can deliver measurable operational value.

Engineering & Operational Improvement

• Work directly with plant leadership to understand operational challenges and translate them into technology and engineering solutions.
• Use data and engineering analysis to identify opportunities to improve throughput, yield, labor productivity, equipment uptime, product quality, food safety, traceability, energy efficiency, maintenance performance, and workplace safety.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for automation and software investments.
• Lead projects from initial concept and requirements through design, implementation, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Establish measurable performance objectives for technology projects and ensure benefits are realized after implementation.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of automation, controls, software, and manufacturing technology engineers.
• Establish clear technical standards, priorities, development objectives, and accountability.
• Recruit and develop engineering talent with the skills required for a modern automated manufacturing environment.
• Create a culture of engineering excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, and operational ownership.
• Build strong relationships between Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, Quality, and other functions.
• Develop internal technical capability while determining when external technology partners and integrators are required.

Project & Vendor Management

• Lead major automation and software projects, including scope definition, technical specifications, vendor selection, implementation, commissioning, and ongoing support.
• Manage external automation integrators, OEMs, software vendors, and technology partners.
• Establish appropriate project governance, budgets, schedules, risk management, and technical acceptance criteria.
• Ensure new systems are properly documented and transferred to Operations and Maintenance.
• Develop long-term technology roadmaps aligned with the organization's operational and business strategy.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering/technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls, manufacturing software, engineering technology, or a closely related field.
• Significant experience leading engineers or technical teams.
• Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing or processing environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation and control systems.
• Experience with one or more major PLC platforms, preferably Rockwell/Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens.
• Experience with SCADA, HMI, industrial networking, databases, MES/MOM, or manufacturing software.
• Experience integrating plant-floor equipment and controls with higher-level software and enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated experience delivering automation or software projects from concept through commissioning and operational deployment.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, systems integrators, and technology partners.
• Strong understanding of industrial cybersecurity and the relationship between OT and IT.
• Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.