Controls Specialist – Dairy Foods (UHT & Cheese Manufacturing)

The Controls Specialist supports and maintains the automation and control systems across our dairy processing operations, including UHT (Ultra-High Temperature) processing lines, cheese-making and cheese-cutting/packaging systems, and related utilities (CIP, pasteurization, homogenization, and packaging equipment). This role requires strong Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI expertise, the ability to read PLC logic across multiple platforms, and experience upgrading legacy dairy processing equipment. This position plays a key role in ensuring consistent product quality, food safety compliance, and minimal downtime across critical processing systems.

• →Program, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC and HMI systems, with a primary focus on Allen-Bradley platforms (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PanelView) used across UHT, cheese production, and packaging lines.
• →Read, interpret, and troubleshoot PLC logic across various platforms (e.g., Siemens, Omron, GE) supporting legacy or vendor-installed equipment.
• →Support and maintain controls on UHT processing systems, including aseptic filling, sterilization, homogenization, and heat exchanger controls.
• →Support and maintain controls on cheese manufacturing systems, including vats, presses, brining, cutting, and packaging equipment.
• →Troubleshoot and maintain CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems and automated sanitation controls to ensure food safety and sanitation compliance.
• →Support upgrades and modernization of legacy dairy processing equipment, including control panel retrofits, PLC/HMI migrations, and obsolescence management.
• →Diagnose and resolve electrical and controls issues quickly to minimize downtime on high-throughput, time-sensitive production lines.
• →Collaborate with Quality, Food Safety, Maintenance, and Production teams to ensure controls support HACCP, SQF, and other food safety/regulatory requirements.
• →Assist with robotic palletizing, case packing, or material handling system integration and troubleshooting as needed.
• →Support and maintain Ignition and other SCADA/data historian systems used for batch tracking, temperature logging, and traceability as needed.
• →Maintain accurate documentation, including electrical schematics, program backups, batch/recipe logic, and change logs.
• →Provide training and technical support to maintenance and production staff on control system operation.

• Proven experience programming and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLCs and HMIs.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret PLC logic across multiple platforms/brands.
• Experience upgrading, retrofitting, or modernizing legacy industrial control systems, ideally in a food or dairy processing environment.
• Strong understanding of electrical schematics, ladder logic, and industrial control principles.
• Ability to troubleshoot temperature-critical and sanitation-critical control systems (e.g., pasteurization, sterilization, CIP).
• Comfort working in a food/dairy manufacturing environment, including washdown areas and cold/hot processing zones.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose issues quickly to minimize downtime on continuous-run production lines.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, regulated production environment.

• Experience with UHT processing systems and aseptic packaging controls.
• Experience with cheese-making equipment controls (vats, presses, brine systems).
• Experience programming or troubleshooting industrial robots (e.g., Fanuc, ABB, KUKA) used in palletizing or case packing.
• Experience with SCADA systems, batch tracking, or data historian platforms.
• Familiarity with food safety and regulatory standards (HACCP, SQF, FDA, PMO/Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance).
• Familiarity with industrial networking protocols (Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, Profibus).
• Associate's degree or technical certification in Electrical, Industrial Automation, Controls, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience in dairy/food manufacturing).

• Ability to work in a dairy processing environment, including exposure to washdown areas, wet/humid conditions, cold storage, and high-temperature processing zones.
• Ability to lift up to [50] lbs, climb ladders, and work in confined or elevated spaces as needed.
• Availability for on-call support or off-shift work to address urgent equipment issues, given continuous/near-continuous production schedules common in dairy processing.
• Compliance with all food safety, GMP, and sanitation protocols required for entry into production areas.
• There will be required time allocation to travel and support the Heyburn Idaho facility on a regular basis which may include some overnight work assignments.