Factory Operations Technology Lead (FMCG / Food Manufacturing)

Factory Operations Technology Lead (FMCG / Food Manufacturing)

Job Title

Factory Operations Technology Lead

Location

[Location]

Department

Manufacturing / Operations Technology

Reports To

Engineering Manager / Plant Manager / Head of Digital Manufacturing

Job Summary

The Factory Operations Technology Lead is responsible for leading the design, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing automation and operational technology (OT) systems across the factory. This role ensures high availability, reliability, cybersecurity, and optimization of production systems while supporting digital transformation initiatives.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in the FMCG or food manufacturing industry, with strong expertise in industrial automation, SCADA systems, PLC programming, ControlLogix platforms, edge computing, manufacturing execution technologies, and integration between OT and IT systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead factory automation and operational technology initiatives to improve production efficiency, quality, and reliability.
• Manage the lifecycle of automation systems, including upgrades, modernization, and continuous improvement.
• Support manufacturing operations by troubleshooting complex automation and control system issues.
• Design, develop, and implement automation solutions using PLC, HMI, SCADA, and industrial networking technologies.
• Maintain and enhance Rockwell Automation ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and related PLC platforms.
• Configure, maintain, and optimize SCADA applications for monitoring and control of production processes.
• Lead implementation and support of industrial edge computing solutions for real-time data collection and analytics.
• Develop automation standards, documentation, and best practices across manufacturing sites.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, and IT teams to deliver technology projects.
• Manage automation vendors, system integrators, and contractors during project execution.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, GMP, HACCP, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement cybersecurity best practices for industrial control systems in collaboration with IT security teams.
• Support digital manufacturing initiatives including IIoT, predictive maintenance, AI, and data analytics.
• Lead commissioning, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and startup activities.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities for optimization and process improvement.
• Develop disaster recovery and backup strategies for automation infrastructure.
• Mentor automation engineers and maintenance technicians.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 8–12+ years of experience in factory automation within the FMCG or food manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience leading automation and operational technology projects in manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes and production operations.

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Rockwell Automation ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with SCADA platforms such as FactoryTalk View SE/ME, Ignition, Wonderware, WinCC, or AVEVA.
• Experience with HMI development and industrial visualization systems.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols including:
• EtherNet/IP
• Modbus TCP
• Profinet
• OPC UA
• DeviceNet
• Experience with industrial edge platforms and edge gateways.
• Knowledge of IIoT architectures and smart factory technologies.
• Experience integrating PLCs with MES, ERP, historians, and cloud platforms.
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443, NIST, ISA/IEC standards).
• Familiarity with SQL databases and industrial data historians.
• Experience with virtualization technologies and industrial servers.
• Knowledge of manufacturing analytics and reporting platforms.
• Experience with robotics and machine automation is an advantage.

Preferred Experience

• FMCG or food processing manufacturing.
• Packaging automation.
• Batch processing systems.
• Continuous manufacturing operations.
• Utilities automation.
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Digital transformation programs.
• Predictive maintenance technologies.
• Industrial AI and machine learning applications.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and presentation abilities.
• Vendor and contractor management.
• Change management and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Factory automation system uptime.
• Production line availability.
• Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).
• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF).
• Project delivery on time and within budget.
• Reduction in production downtime.
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement.
• Automation-related incident reduction.
• Cybersecurity compliance.
• Energy and process efficiency improvements.

Preferred Certifications

• Rockwell Automation certifications.
• Siemens TIA Portal certification.
• ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP).
• PMP or PRINCE2.
• ITIL Foundation.
• Industrial Cybersecurity certifications (ISA/IEC 62443, GICSP, or equivalent).