The Role
Senior controls engineer who leads automation architecture, customer technical liaison, and sales of controls/upgrades. Own technical scope, design reviews, FDS creation, startup support, and deliver complex PLC/HMI/SCADA solutions with 50% travel.
Summary Generated by Built In
At Blentech, our mission is to provide process and equipment solutions that deliver safe, economical, nutritional, and good-tasting foods to the world. Blentech is the industry leader, pioneering revolutionary food processing systems trusted by the world's leading food manufacturers. Our cutting-edge solutions fuse unparalleled engineering, advanced automation, and deep process expertise, guaranteeing our partners maximized throughput, flawless consistency, and unmatched operational excellence. With a proud, nearly 40-year legacy, we remain fiercely committed to delivering premium equipment, proudly engineered and manufactured in the heart of Sonoma County, CA.
We are seeking a seasoned Principal Controls Systems Engineer to serve as the primary commercial and technical bridge between our customers and our internal teams. This is a highly visible, growth-oriented role where you will act as a consultant and revenue driver, identifying opportunities to expand project scope, upsell automation solutions, and maximize customer value. Beyond providing technical leadership for complex automation architectures and functional designs, you will actively own the sales lifecycle for controls and upgrades—from initial technical consultations to negotiating final scopes. We are looking for an entrepreneurial engineer who balances deep automation expertise with a proactive sales mindset, dedicated to transforming customer needs into revenue-generating, scalable control solutions. This role is based out of our Indiana office.
What Success Looks Like
Sales & Business Development
Technical Leadership & Customer Relations
We are NOT accepting international applicants currently. Must be within driving distance of the office.
We are seeking a seasoned Principal Controls Systems Engineer to serve as the primary commercial and technical bridge between our customers and our internal teams. This is a highly visible, growth-oriented role where you will act as a consultant and revenue driver, identifying opportunities to expand project scope, upsell automation solutions, and maximize customer value. Beyond providing technical leadership for complex automation architectures and functional designs, you will actively own the sales lifecycle for controls and upgrades—from initial technical consultations to negotiating final scopes. We are looking for an entrepreneurial engineer who balances deep automation expertise with a proactive sales mindset, dedicated to transforming customer needs into revenue-generating, scalable control solutions. This role is based out of our Indiana office.
What Success Looks Like
- Increase scope of customer projects through improvements, larger systems, upgrades of the customer and Blentech integration
- Robust and scalable automation architectures that align with customer vision and Blentech standards.
- Clear translation of vague requirements into precise Technical Scope of Work and Design Specifications.
- Effective leadership of customer design reviews, ensuring technical alignment and proactive change management.
- Successful delivery of complex custom programming and high-level support for system startups.
Sales & Business Development
- Identify and drive sales initiatives for industrial controls and system upgrades.
- Serve as a self-starter, responsible for generating revenue within tight timeframes, with a target of $1M in additional revenue through hardware, software, and system upgrades once ramped up.
- When not actively focused on sales, provide technical assistance to Service and Commissioning work centers.
- Expected travel: 50%.
Technical Leadership & Customer Relations
- Serve as the main technical point of contact for automation and software discussions post-PO.
- Lead design reviews and workshops to validate system functionality and interface requirements.
- Define complete system architectures, including hardware selection and software stack requirements.
- Manage technical scope, identify change orders, and negotiate technical trade-offs with customers.
- Translate high-level requests into Technical Scope of Work and Functional Design Specifications (FDS).
- Provide high-level startup support and train customers on system architecture philosophy.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- Strong proficiency in PLC programming (Rockwell/Siemens), HMI/SCADA design, and industrial protocols.
- Exceptional ability to explain complex control logic to non-technical stakeholders.
- Proven track record of building client trust while managing project scope.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to "solutionize" on the fly during technical workshops.
- 5+ years of experience in pharma or food industrial controls.
- Sales experience selling controls and upgrades in industrial applications.
- Basic level understanding of PLC / SCADA / ladder logic (dedicated support teams are available for deep technical work).
- Ability to thrive in a flexible work environment.
- Ability to travel 50% of the time domestically or internationally
- Experience with Ignition
- Be the central hub of communication and organization for a dynamic corporate team.
- Shape the daily culture and employee experience at our Santa Rosa headquarters.
- Work in a collaborative environment with a proud, nearly 40-year legacy of engineering excellence.
- Type: Full Time
- Salary Range: $108,700 - $120,000 DOE
- Benefits: 100% paid Medical, Dental, and Vision for the employee, 401k with match, and PTO
We are NOT accepting international applicants currently. Must be within driving distance of the office.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in pharma or food industrial controls
- Strong proficiency in PLC programming (Rockwell/Siemens)
- HMI/SCADA design experience
- Experience with industrial protocols
- Experience with Ignition
- Sales experience selling controls and upgrades in industrial applications
- Ability to explain complex control logic to non-technical stakeholders
- Proven track record of building client trust while managing project scope
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to solutionize during technical workshops
- Basic level understanding of PLC/SCADA/ladder logic
- Ability to travel approximately 50% domestically or internationally
- Must be within driving distance of the Indiana office; international applicants not accepted
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The Company
What We Do
Blentech is a bay area based food technology company focused on developing equipment, systems and software for the safe, nutritious and consistent preparation of foods. Creatively blending the latest digital and physical technologies, our products deliver function, durability, sanitary design, safety and performance. Our experience in process engineering, automation, manufacturing and service, paired with proprietary manufacturing techniques, delivers superior processing technology at competitive prices. Blentech equipment and systems are built factoring in your specific process goals to design a solution that works for you. This allows our engineers to tailor a solution to your specific application. Blentech equipment is of unparalleled quality and maintains its functional value for decades while delivering product consistency and driving down operating costs.
