Automation & Controls Lead

Overview

Organizational Overview:

PepsiCo is home to some of the world’s most iconic brands—Pepsi, Frito‑Lay, Gatorade, Quaker—and powered by one of the most advanced supply chains on the planet. We innovate, we collaborate, and we continuously raise the bar in safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. If you’re energized by solving complex problems and shaping the future of manufacturing, this is where you belong

Position Overview – Automation & Controls Leader

The Automation & Controls Leader is the plant’s go‑to expert for automation, controls, and factory‑floor network systems. This role owns the strategy, reliability, and continuous improvement of all control systems—ensuring they operate safely, efficiently, and in alignment with plant and business goals.

Beyond the home site, this leader may support a regional pod of plants, providing technical guidance, coaching technicians, and influencing automation strategy across multiple facilities. It’s a high‑impact role for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering, operations, and innovation.

Responsibilities

 

Automation & Controls Leadership

• Serve as the primary in‑plant authority for automation and control systems
• Ensure peak performance and reliability of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, drives, and industrial networks
• Align automation strategy with plant goals for safety, quality, productivity, and cost
• Own factory‑floor network design, performance, cybersecurity posture, and obsolescence planning
• Manage hardware/software lifecycle, upgrades, and mitigation plans
• Lead automation projects from concept through commissioning and handoff
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Operations to ensure seamless execution
• Diagnose and resolve complex automation and controls issues
• Implement solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and safety
• Maintain automation standards, documentation, and change‑management processes

Multi‑Plant (Pod) Support

• Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting support to sister plants within the pod
• Coach and develop automation technicians across sites
• Partner with Technical Services Managers to elevate automation capability and standardization

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $80,200 - $134,250.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 10% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Proven experience leading automation/controls in a manufacturing environment
• Strong expertise in PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, and control system architecture
• Experience managing automation projects end‑to‑end
• Ability to influence across multiple sites and functions
• Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity and OT/IT integration
• Leadership experience with technical teams
• Strong problem‑solving skills in high‑availability environments
• Valid U.S. work authorization

Preferred

• Experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing

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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

 

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age

 

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

 

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement