Process Automation Engineer in Pittston, Pennsylvania at Pittston Co-Packers

FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Type: Full-time
Department: Maintenance
Location: Pittston, PA

Who We Are

At Pittston Co-Packers, we are a team of hardworking individuals driven by a shared purpose: delivering the highest quality beverages through innovation, precision, and pride in our craft. From our production lines to our support teams, we believe in keeping things simple, empowering each other to take ownership, and working together to achieve excellence.

We’re not just growing; we’re setting a new standard in beverage manufacturing. Our culture is built on trust, collaboration, and a strong commitment to doing things the right way. If you’re looking for a workplace where your contributions are valued, your ideas are welcomed, and your growth is supported, you’ll feel right at home with us.

Job Summary:

The Process Automation Engineer is responsible for supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving automation and control systems across beverage process production and packaging operations. This role supports high-speed manufacturing equipment including batching, processing, filling, packaging, conveying, and palletizing systems to ensure production reliability, efficiency, quality, and safety.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in beverage, bottling, food manufacturing, or other automated manufacturing environments, with strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and industrial process controls.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA, and automation systems across production lines.
• Minimize equipment downtime through effective troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Support commissioning, startup, and optimization of new or rebuilt processing and production lines.
• Work closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams to improve line efficiency and equipment reliability.
• Modify and maintain PLC programs, automation logic, alarms, and HMI interfaces as needed.
• Support automation systems related to batching systems, processing systems, fillers, conveyors, palletizers, labelers, and utilities.
• Maintain automation documentation, backups, SOPs, and control standards.
• Coordinate with external vendors and equipment integrators during automation projects and upgrades.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to automation, OEE improvement, waste reduction, and process optimization.
• Ensure automation systems comply with company safety, food safety, and quality standards.

Required Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of industrial automation or controls engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems.
• Experience supporting batching, processing for high-speed bottling manufacturing or packaging equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Beverage, bottling, food manufacturing, or production experience.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, FactoryTalk, Ignition, or Wonderware systems.
• Experience supporting filling, packaging, palletizing, and conveyor systems.
• Startup, commissioning, or line integration experience.
• Knowledge of OEE, MES, and continuous improvement methodologies.
  

Pittston Co-Packers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.