Automation Systems Director

Title: Automation Systems Director
Location: Montreal, Memphis, TN, Dundalk, MD or Hattiesburg, MS work site
25-50% travel to plants in US and Canada.
Target Start Date: June, 2026
Type: Direct Hire, Full Time
Salary: $140-155KYR plus Bonus / Depends on Experience, plus bonus with excellent benefits, PTO and 401K 6% match.  


Overview
Our client, a global leader in the food ingredients & bioprocessing industry, is seeking an Automation Systems Director to lead the strategy, standardization, and execution of automation and control systems across the enterprise. This role is responsible for driving scalable, reliable, and secure automation solutions that enhance manufacturing performance, product quality, and operational efficiency.
Partnering closely with Engineering, IT, and plant operations, this leader plays a key role in advancing digital transformation, capital project execution, and automation excellence across multiple manufacturing sites.

• Define and execute the enterprise automation roadmap, aligning with operational goals and capital investments.
• Establish standards for PLC/HMI programming, SCADA, MES, instrumentation, and control architectures.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and process consistency.
• Oversee the full automation lifecycle (design, deployment, upgrades, obsolescence planning).

• Lead automation scope for capital projects, including system design, budgeting, and implementation.
• Partner with Engineering, IT, and plant teams to deploy automation across manufacturing, utilities, and packaging lines.
• Ensure alignment with process engineering, cybersecurity, and infrastructure standards.
• Drive compliance with GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.

• Optimize automation systems to improve uptime, process control, and product traceability.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex system issues.
• Maintain robust documentation, validation protocols, and change management processes.

• Lead and develop automation engineers, controls specialists, and contractors across sites.
• Manage relationships with system integrators, OEMs, and automation vendors.
• Build internal capabilities through training and knowledge transfer.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field or equivalent real work experience (open to candidates who have worked their way up through Electrical Maintenance/Automation & Controls depts throughout their career)
• 10+ years of experience in industrial automation and control systems, including 5+ years in leadership.
• Deep expertise in PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider), HMIs, SCADA, and control networks.
• Experience with process automation, batch systems, and utilities in manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of industrial cybersecurity, MES, data historians, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site initiatives and capital projects in regulated industries.

• Drive standardization and modernization of automation systems across global operations
• Improve manufacturing efficiency, reliability, and product quality
• Enable scalable digital transformation and operational excellence

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