Job Description:
Accelerator, a global Division of Mars Snacking, is on the front line of unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands to fuel what’s next for Snacking. It’s home to both emerging and enduring brands, including KIND, TRÜ FRÜ, NATURE’S BAKERY, RXBAR, EGGO, POP-TARTS and RICE KRISPIE TREATS. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a start-up, our Division has the ambition to accelerate the future of snacking by delivering products consumers love today, discovering category-shaping innovations for tomorrow and developing entrepreneurial teams whose impact will last for generations.
We’re looking for passionate talent who dare to dream big, agile collaborators who talk straight and decide fast, and driven performers with a growth mindset. We’re proudly part of Mars, while also building something boldly different. If this inspires and energizes you, you’ve found the right place where you can do cool things with fun people for one of the biggest snacking companies in the world!
As a Principal Project Engineer, PCIS, you will be a key technical leader for our Controls, Digital, and Automation team. This is a chance to steer the future of our manufacturing capabilities by leading critical automation and capital projects from concept to completion. You will guide a dedicated team of engineers, manage multi-million dollar investments, and align project strategy with our ambitious business goals. This role is a unique blend of deep industrial controls expertise, strategic project delivery, and impactful team leadership, placing you at the center of our digital transformation.
You will drive our technical strategy by establishing best-in-class standards for automation, control architecture, and system integration across our facilities. By mentoring project leaders and removing roadblocks, you will ensure your team delivers high-impact results, optimizing our operations and building the factory of the future. If you are passionate about pioneering new technologies and leading teams to achieve breakthrough performance, this is the role for you.
What are we looking for?
- A BS Degree in Engineering with 8-10+ years of technical experience in a role focused on automation and industrial controls, preferably in consumer products.
- Proven leadership experience with 2-4+ years of line management and a track record of leading capital projects, preferably with budgets over $10M.
- Deep expertise in PLC programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI/SCADA development (e.g., FactoryTalk, Ignition), and troubleshooting complex control systems.
- Strong understanding of industrial networking (e.g., Ethernet/IP), safety circuits, and regulatory standards (e.g., NFPA, UL, CE).
- Experience with system integration, testing, and commissioning of automated systems, including motion control and servo systems.
- Excellent project governance skills, including cost estimation, scheduling, and vendor management.
- A collaborative leader with effective relationship management skills and the ability to thrive both independently and in a team environment.
- Ability to travel up to 50% depending on project needs.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Provide direct line management and technical mentorship to a team of engineering associates, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture.
- Own and direct the end-to-end execution of capital projects, ensuring delivery on time and within budget through defined stage-gate processes.
- Establish and govern automation, control architecture, and cybersecurity standards for all regional capital projects.
- Drive the "Digital by Design" and Industry 4.0 agenda by implementing IIoT solutions, MES connectivity, and advanced analytics to improve asset reliability.
- Lead project governance, including financial oversight of budgets up to $5M+, schedule tracking, and stakeholder management.
- Partner with cross-functional teams including Operations, Maintenance, R&D, and Finance to ensure projects are seamlessly integrated into our facilities.
- Oversee vendors and contractors, ensuring adherence to scope, specifications, and Mars' Early Management (EM) and safety standards.
- Serve as the senior technical authority for design reviews, code approvals, and complex troubleshooting challenges.
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by our Five Principles.
- Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering
- 8-10+ years of technical experience focused on automation and industrial controls
- 2-4+ years of line management experience
- Experience leading capital projects, preferably with budgets over $10 million
- Expertise in PLC programming, including Allen-Bradley or Siemens
- Experience developing HMI and SCADA systems, including FactoryTalk or Ignition
- Understanding of industrial networking, safety circuits, and NFPA, UL, and CE standards
- Experience with system integration, testing, commissioning, motion control, and servo systems
- Project governance experience, including cost estimation, scheduling, and vendor management
- Effective leadership, collaboration, relationship management, and independent working skills
- Ability to travel up to 50% depending on project needs
Mars Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mars and has not been reviewed or approved by Mars.
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Healthcare Strength — The benefits package is positioned as comprehensive, with broad medical coverage and additional protections like life insurance and short- and long-term disability. Mental health support is emphasized, including free mental health services and wellbeing programming under initiatives such as Mars Be Well.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is highlighted as market-leading in the U.S., with an example of 18 weeks fully paid for both parents. Additional family-related leave types such as sick time for caregiving and bereavement leave are also described as part of the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are described as strong, including 401(k) matching (with a 6% match cited) and pension plans in some cases. The broader package also references retirement savings options and contributions aligned to local market practice, supporting long-term financial security.
Mars Insights
What We Do
For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us. Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, MILKY WAY®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, SKITTLES®, WHISKAS®, COCOAVIA®, and 5™; and take care of half of the world’s pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, Pet Partners™, and VCA™. We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.
