Apply on Employer Site

Whitsons Culinary Group · 12 hours ago

Process Automation Engineer - Berkeley

Berkeley, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$105K/yr - $125K/yr

3+ years exp

Whitsons Culinary Group is seeking a Process Automation Engineer for their Berkeley Facility. This role involves designing, optimizing, and supporting automated systems to enhance production efficiency and product consistency, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and ensure food safety.

Food and BeverageFood DeliveryFood ProcessingRestaurantsWholesale

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, and automated control systems

Implement automation solutions including robotics, smart sensors, vision systems, automated batching, and conveyor controls

Ensure integration with plant digital systems, interlocks, alarms, traceability tools, and data platforms

Lead commissioning of new automation equipment, upgrades, and modifications

Conduct line studies to improve throughput, cycle times, and OEE

Reconfigure line layouts to eliminate bottlenecks and strengthen flow, ergonomics, and efficiency

Optimize mixing, cooking, seasoning, packaging, and conveyor processes using engineering and Lean methodologies

Collaborate with operations on planning and execution of new lines, expansions, and automation enhancements

Lead CI initiatives (Kaizen, 5S, SMED, RCA, TPM) to improve reliability and reduce scrap, rework, and downtime

Identify systemic issues and implement standardized processes and improvements

Analyze equipment data to drive predictive maintenance and technology upgrades

Partner with Maintenance to diagnose automation and electromechanical issues

Support equipment selection and ensure compatibility with automation and integration requirements

Develop equipment lifecycle strategies including upgrades and modernization plans

Build real-time dashboards to monitor OEE, downtime, yields, throughput, and performance KPIs

Integrate automation systems with ERP/MES platforms for improved data visibility

Use analytics to support decision-making and identify continuous improvement opportunities

Ensure automated processes comply with USDA, HACCP, GMP, and sanitation requirements

Validate changes to automated processes for safety, quality, and critical control points

Troubleshoot quality deviations caused by automation and implement corrective actions

Lead automation and engineering projects from concept to implementation

Develop project scopes, budgets, timelines, and communication plans

Collaborate with Culinary, R&D, QA, Production, Logistics, and Facilities to support new products and process changes

Train operators, supervisors, and maintenance teams on automation systems

Support emergency response for critical system failures

Participate in facility expansion initiatives, pilots, and strategic projects

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualification

PLC programmingAutomation EngineeringProduction Line OptimizationRoboticsContinuous ImprovementProject ManagementSafety MindsetInnovationCross-Functional CollaborationProblem Solving

Required

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field required

3–7 years in automation or process engineering within high-volume manufacturing

Demonstrated experience optimizing production lines and commissioning equipment

Proficiency in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI design, SCADA, MES

Strong knowledge of robotics, conveyors, PID loops, sensors, instrumentation, and industrial controls

Ability to read schematics, P&IDs, and technical engineering documentation

Experience with data systems, OEE tools, and digital integration platforms

Production Line Optimization

Automation Engineering & Controls

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

Continuous Improvement & Lean

Project Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Innovation & Systems Thinking

Safety & Quality Mindset

Preferred

Professional certifications preferred (Rockwell/Siemens, ISA, robotics, controls engineering)

Food, beverage, pharma, or protein manufacturing experience highly preferred

Benefits

Health

Dental

Vision

401(k) with company match

Generous PTO

Paid holidays

Company

Whitsons Culinary Group

Founded in 1979, Whitsons Culinary Group® provides dining services to consumers in both public and private organizations throughout the United States, and our Whitsons Family of Companies continues to grow as we expand across the country.

Founded in 1979

Islandia, New York, USA

1001-5000 employees

https://www.whitsons.com/

H1B Sponsorship

Whitsons Culinary Group has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2020 (1)