[Hiring] Senior Strategic Automation Project Manager @Smithfield Foods

Role Description

As part of our Engineering organization, you will lead the development and execution of strategic automation and capital engineering initiatives that modernize manufacturing capabilities, improve equipment performance, and support long-term business growth. You will serve as a key technical leader responsible for aligning engineering investments with enterprise objectives while driving the successful delivery of complex automation projects across multiple facilities.

The Strategic Automation Project Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of automation, controls, robotics, and equipment modernization projects from concept development through commissioning and operational handoff. This position combines strategic project leadership with strong engineering expertise in industrial automation systems, controls architecture, equipment integration, and manufacturing technologies.

The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering mindset, practical experience with automation technologies, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project execution. Success in this role requires balancing technical excellence, project governance, budget performance, and stakeholder alignment to deliver scalable engineering solutions that support the organization's future manufacturing vision.

What You’ll Do

• Automation Strategy: Develop and execute a multi-year automation engineering roadmap supporting facility expansion, equipment modernization, advanced manufacturing initiatives, and evaluation of emerging technologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, OEMs, system integrators, and external stakeholders to define requirements, establish project scope, and implement automation solutions.
• Technical Leadership: Serve as the lead for automation and controls modernization initiatives involving PLCs, robotics, motion control, machine vision, industrial software platforms, and integrated production systems.
• Project Execution: Lead automation and capital engineering projects from concept through commissioning and closeout, managing budgets, schedules, resources, procurement activities, risks, and overall project performance.
• Engineering Design & Standards: Provide oversight for controls architecture, electrical, instrumentation, networking, SCADA, HMI, automation system design, testing, validation, and standardization to ensure long-term supportability.
• Vendor & Contractor Management: Coordinate engineering consultants, OEMs, contractors, system integrators, and internal project teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Capital Planning & Reporting: Develop business cases, capital requests, ROI analyses, project justifications, and executive-level updates while monitoring performance against scope, budget, safety, quality, and schedule objectives.
• People Leadership: Drive a positive employee experience through coaching, employee development, mentoring, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline and 8+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, VFDs, motion control, robotics, and industrial networks.
• Basic coding and scripting experience with the ability to understand software integration, databases, data collection systems, APIs, and industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with automation project execution including controls design, equipment procurement, installation management, commissioning, and startup support.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, controls narratives, and automation architecture documentation.
• Strong understanding of capital project management principles, engineering design reviews, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, IIoT technologies, MES systems, and digital manufacturing platforms preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support engineering initiatives.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• PMP certification, PE license, or equivalent project management and engineering credentials preferred.
• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and Siemens TIA Portal experience.
• Ignition, Wonderware, FactoryTalk, or similar SCADA platforms.
• Robotics integration experience (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa).
• Machine vision and inspection systems.
• Industrial Ethernet and OT network design.
• Equipment OEM management and system integration oversight.
• Electrical power distribution and control panel design exposure.
• Manufacturing data systems and Industrial IoT platforms.
• Capital planning and engineering portfolio management.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming and controls logic development in platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or similar automation systems.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The expected pay range for this position is $115,000 - $150,000 annually. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package.

Relocation Package Available: Yes

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.