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Controls Engineer - Belvidere, IL Plant

General Mills, Inc
United States, Illinois, Belvidere
Oct 03, 2025
Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

Belvidere is a manufacturing facility of approximately 700 employees serving the Snacks Operating Unit and Convenience and Foodservice Segment. We operate in a dynamic business environment, with a rich history of performance, innovation, and renovation. Recently, we added Natural and Organic bars and Fruit by the Foot production into our portfolio after divesting Green Giant, which concluded over 120 years of vegetable growing and manufacturing. We continue to evolve toward a more complex product portfolio to meet the changing needs of our consumers and customers (organic, non-GMO, new packaging formats). The Belvidere plant remains a strategic and critical site for both the NAR and C&F Segments, acting as a magnet for investment and growth.

The Controls Engineer is responsible for providing technical support for the site with respect to electrical and controls. This role serves to improve the safety and reliability of the site through tactical support and capital project execution support. The candidate will function as a control's technology expert for the plant. This role will manage the electrical and controls architecture and support or manage electrical and controls capital projects and drive the development of internal resources and manage relationships with contractors and integrators to ensure project success and knowledge transfer. This position requires availability for calls after hours for emergency situations.

This role reports to the Plant Technical Manager.

To learn more about our Belvidere plant and surrounding area click here!

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Contribute to a safety culture that strives for zero injuries by proactively identifying and addressing physical/environmental/behavioral issues and implementing best practices for safety reliable control circuits
  • Ensure existing and new equipment and infrastructure meets applicable electrical codes (NEC, NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, etc.) and GMI Global CIS Standards
  • Provide tactical and troubleshooting support to operations and maintenance in the area of controls and information systems
  • Provide strategic support for engineering, operations, and maintenance to drive out losses in the manufacturing process by leveraging existing and emerging control system technology and methodologies
  • Implementation of PLC and HMI hardware/software and manufacturing networks in accordance with GMI standards
  • Build and maintain a strong working relationship with engineers, operations and maintenance leadership, controls techs, floor personnel, and external engineers/vendors
  • Provide technical coaching and development for controls team
  • Manage electrical and controls architecture, including servers, PLC's HMI's, and VFD's
  • Provide input into the plants capital plan and proactively manage obsolescence of controls systems
  • Support plant capital projects as a controls and electrical systems lead. Manage electrical/controls related capital projects as necessary
  • Manage external integrators as necessary
  • Apply Zero Loss Culture concepts in all areas of work
  • Work with the Quality department to ensure all installations and projects meet the quality and sanitation requirements of the plant
  • Interface with corporate controls engineering team; ensure compliance with corporate controls initiatives and standards
  • Establish relationships with contractors and carry out procedures based on site and corporate engineering standards in the highest professional and ethical basis
  • Support Capital Project Planning, Execution, and Ensure that projects meet operating expectations and are completed within authorized budgets and schedule constraints
  • Ensure designs and installations conform to plant and GMI standards
  • Interface with corporate personnel, engineers, vendors and operating technicians to effectively develop and implement system design improvements
  • Manage obsolescence in each area of the plant

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related degree with applicable experience or extensive relevant work experience
  • 3+ years of related experience
  • Demonstrated understanding of technology, including complexities of products, equipment, and costs
  • Demonstrated understanding and exposure to or experience with the following: Wonderware InTouch, Historian, Allen Bradley, Control Logix, Panelviews, and RSLinx, Allen Bradley Servo Controllers, Remote IO, Ethernet, ControlNet, and DeviceNet communications, Common field devices/instruments, Servers, Windows Operating Systems, etc.
  • Ability to interpret and apply the NEC, NFPA 70E, GMI Corporate and other standards to the plant equipment and projects
  • Strong project and project management skills, including estimating, scheduling, quote request generation, bid analyses, cost tracking and compliance, project issue resolution, installation and start-up support, and training
  • Solid experience in Leading and Managing Electrical Contractors and Third Party Controls Integrators as part of major capital project initiatives.
  • Ability to troubleshoot PLC's at the code level and troubleshoot equipment and wiring.
  • Willing to provide support off shift and/or on weekends to support 24-hour plant operations, as needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working in Manufacturing and Team Environment, Good Communication Skills, and Learning agility
  • Understanding of and experience with power distribution and associated equipment (120V, 208V, 230V, 240V, 277V, 480V, 4160V)
  • Demonstrated flexibility/ adaptability
  • Good problem solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Ability to train and pass skills on to others
  • Commitment to CI (Continuous Improvement) and use of the tools to drive improvements

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
  • Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $70100.00 - $105200.00 / Annually. At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range. Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodations request form by following this link: Accommodations Request.

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