About this role
Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, weve grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries and iconic beverage brands, including White Claw Hard Seltzer, Mikes Hard Lemonade, and Cayman Jack.
Role Purpose:
The Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer is a strategic and technical leader within Mark Anthony Brewing, responsible for driving reliability, efficiency, and innovation across all automation and operational technology (OT) platforms. This role collaborates closely with corporate engineering, IT, OT, and site operations to ensure system integrity, performance, and scalability.
A major focus is on KHS canning and packaging systems, leading design, optimization, and support for all related controls, PLC/HMI, and network architecture to deliver world-class manufacturing performance.
Accountabilities & Impact:
- Serve as the technical authority for KHS canning and packaging equipment , including fillers, seamers, pasteurizers, conveyors, packers palletizer, and depalletizers.
- Design, develop, and optimize PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for process and packaging automation using Rockwell (RSLogix, Studio 5000), Siemens, and KHS-specific platforms.
- Lead troubleshooting of control system issues, including PID tuning, servo and VFD configuration, network diagnostics, and machine sequencing logic.
- Develop, modify, and maintain electrical and control system documentation — including P&IDs, panel drawings, I/O lists, and network schematics.
- Execute and manage capital and continuous improvement projects from concept to commissioning, ensuring minimal disruption to production.
- Lead programming standardization across sites — enforcing MAB controls architecture, code management practices, and change control compliance.
- Integrate equipment-level controls with higher-level OT systems (MES, Historian, SCADA, SQL databases, and reporting dashboards).
- Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity teams to ensure secure, reliable OT network performance, VLAN segmentation, and system hardening.
- Conduct root cause analyses and develop permanent corrective actions for automation-related downtime events.
- Partner with Maintenance, Production, and Quality teams to align system design with GMP, Food Safety, and operational excellence standards.
- Train and mentor controls engineers and technicians on advanced troubleshooting, controls standards, and safety procedures.
- Maintain strong vendor relationships with KHS and other OEMs, ensuring alignment with corporate specifications, upgrades, and performance targets.
Skills & Experiences Needed:
- Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Automation Engineering, or equivalent work experience
- 8+ years of experience in automation and controls engineering in Food & Beverage manufacturing environments
- Extensive hands-on experience with KHS canning and packaging systems , including configuration, programming, and system optimization
- Expert-level proficiency in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Siemens Step 7/TIA Portal), Kuka controls
- Advanced experience developing and maintaining SCADA/HMI applications (FactoryTalk SE/ME, Ignition, WinCC, KHS Human-Machine Interfaces(Zenon))
- Strong background in networked automation systems (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC UA) and IT/OT convergence
- Proven experience with full project lifecycle — design, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and start-up support
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing automation engineers or controls technicians
The Sr. Automation and Controls Engineer position is well-suited for you if you have/are:
- Expert in automation design, process control, and machine safety systems (GuardLogix, Safety PLCs, light curtains, and interlocks)
- Deep understanding of KHS automation architecture, servo motion, and filler/seamer synchronization including Kuka palletizers
- Strong programming and data integration skills: Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Python, SQL, XML, VBA, and web services
- Capable of designing and optimizing control panels, instrumentation, and I/O distribution
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and cross-functional communication skills
- Familiar with ISA standards, electrical schematics, and instrumentation calibration practices
This position has been identified as a safety sensitive position within the state of Arizona.
At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:
Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.