Manufacturing Automation Manager Jobs in California

Company Description

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California's Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates. 

JOB SUMMARY:

The Electrical & Controls Manager is responsible for leading plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role combines people leadership, hands-on troubleshooting, automation strategy, capital project execution, and continuous improvement ownership across processing, packaging, utilities, and facility support systems. 

The manager leads a technical team while partnering closely with operations, maintenance, quality, IT/OT, engineering, and external integrators to improve equipment reliability, modernize legacy control systems, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, and OEE.

Compensation - $110,000.00 - $140,000.00. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Job Description

• Lead, coach, develop, and manage the electrical and controls team through clear expectations, scheduling, training, performance management, and accountability for execution.  
• Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems across Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes. Occasional regional travel as needed to support other facilities.
• Provide direct technical leadership for advanced troubleshooting of electrical, automation, networking, and controls-related failures using schematics, software tools, and field diagnostics. 
• Drive control system lifecycle management, including migration plans for obsolete PLC, HMI, network, and drive platforms. 
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment, as well as controls upgrades for existing lines, utility systems, and facility infrastructure. 
• Support plant electrical infrastructure and low-voltage control systems, including troubleshooting, design review, documentation updates, and expansion planning. 
• Support plant data and digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL-connected systems, reporting tools, and machine-level integration projects. 
• Use CMMS data, downtime trends, and failure history to prioritize reliability actions and capital improvements.
• Provide on-call or escalated support for critical production issues, shutdowns, startups, and major project activities as required. 
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements, arc flash expectations, LOTO practices, and machine safety standards; escalate material risks to plant leadership.
• Manage approved controls contractors, system integrators, and vendors to ensure work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to plant standards. 

Qualifications

PLC & Control Systems

• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, and legacy SLC5 systems
• Siemens S7/TIA Portal platforms
• Exposure to B&R automation systems preferred
• Ability to troubleshoot, modify, and support PLC logic, I/O architecture, and integrated machine controls

Industrial Networks & Communications

• Ethernet/IP
  • Profinet
  • DeviceNet
  • ControlNet
  • Remote I/O systems
  • OPC communications preferred
• Understanding of managed industrial switches, routers, wireless infrastructure, and plant network architecture

HMI / SCADA Systems

• • Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View ME & SE
  • Siemens HMI platforms
  • Wonderware / AVEVA platforms
  • SCADA, Historian, MES, and data collection systems
  • Knowledge of visualization, alarming, trending, and operational reporting systems

Drives & Motion Control

• • Allen-Bradley PowerFlex series drives
  • SEW Eurodrive systems
  • B&R motion and drive platforms
  • Emerson and Yaskawa drives
  • VFDs
  • Servo systems
  • Motion control applications
  • Motor control centers (MCCs)
  • Soft starters and motor protection systems

Electrical & Instrumentation

• • Electrical control panels
  • Relay logic
  • Safety circuits
  • Instrumentation systems
  • 24VAC / 24VDC / 4-20mA control systems
  • Level
  • Pressure
  • Flow
  • Temperature
  • Position and distance measurement devices

Software & Digital Systems

• • SQL databases
  • Historian systems
  • MES platforms
  • Data integration systems

Exposure to:

• • JSON
  • APIs
  • Web services
  • Industrial data platforms
  • Industry 4.0 technologies preferred

Engineering & Design Tools

• • Electrical schematics
  • Panel layouts
  • P&IDs
  • Mechanical drawings
  • AutoCAD
  • AutoCAD Electrical
  • Visio
  • Electrical design documentation

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and external vendors or contractors.
• Proven experience managing multiple priorities including production support, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and emergency plant support.
• Experience supporting high-speed manufacturing, packaging, or processing operations within food, beverage, CPG, or related industrial environments preferred.
• Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement principles.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety standards and safe work practices including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and machine safety systems.
• Support capital planning, budgeting, and project justification activities related to controls, electrical infrastructure, reliability improvements, and automation modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, or plant modernization initiatives preferred.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment built on communication, accountability, engagement, and mutual respect.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical development skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage electrical & controls budget.
• Proactive leader who demonstrates ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset across plant operations and team performance.
• Self-directed leader capable of balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational support when required.
• Ability to support off-shift, weekend, and emergency operational needs in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combination of technical education and relevant industrial experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience supporting industrial manufacturing systems in a production environment.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience in manufacturing, maintenance, automation, or controls preferred.
• Food & Beverage manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.

Additional Information

POM's Dedication to You:

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including: 
  • 24/7 online physician consultations 
  • virtual mental health resources 
  • life coaching 
  • engaging employee community groups 
  • cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements 
  • library of on-demand fitness videos 
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units. 
• Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses. 
• Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward. 
• Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace. 
• Building a Healthy Society: To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California's Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1 in PEOPLE's "100 Companies That Care" list and was named one of Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com.
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities. 

POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products, including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends and teas. With nearly two million pomegranate trees in Central California, we grow, handpick and juice our own pomegranates to ensure the highest quality. Sold throughout the world and in the vast majority of North American retailers, our selection of products includes pomegranate-based juices and teas, fresh fruit when in season, and fresh arils.

POM Wonderful is part of The Wonderful Company, a successful, fast-growing privately held $6 billion company with 10,000 employees worldwide. The Wonderful Company's connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California's Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit csr.wonderful.com. 

We've made Wonderful Pistachios America's fastest-growing snack brand. We've turned pomegranates and POM Wonderful into a worldwide phenomenon. Wonderful Halos is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America. FIJI Water is the No. 1 premium imported bottled water in America. JUSTIN Wine produces California's top-selling, high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. And Teleflora is the world's leading floral delivery service. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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