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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!
THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:
The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.
Lead the qualification and deployment of controls, robotics, machine vision, inspection, and automation technologies supporting processing, packaging, and end-of-line operations. This role serves as the technical authority for automation architecture, machine safety, controls integration, and regulatory compliance.
The role will also support strategic technology collaboration between U.S. and China operations. Working closely with WH Group engineering, automation, and operations teams, this position will identify proven automation technologies and best practices currently deployed within China facilities and evaluate their applicability for U.S. operations. The position will also collaborate with global equipment manufacturers and technology developers to develop, pilot, and scale innovative automation, robotics, inspection, and digital manufacturing solutions.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.
- Automation & Controls Strategy: Lead the development, review, and standardization of controls architectures, PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, data collection platforms, and enterprise automation standards across global operations.
- Technology Qualification & Validation: Lead qualification, validation, and acceptance testing of automation, robotics, machine vision, inspection technologies, and advanced manufacturing systems to ensure performance, integration, operational readiness, and regulatory compliance.
- Machine Safety & Compliance: Conduct machine safety assessments and controls reviews to ensure compliance with OSHA, ANSI, RIA, NFPA, UL, electrical codes, and corporate safety standards while identifying and mitigating technical risks.
- Global Technology Transfer: Partner with U.S., China, and WH Group engineering teams to evaluate, transfer, adapt, and standardize proven automation technologies, best practices, and manufacturing solutions across facilities.
- Innovation & Smart Manufacturing: Collaborate with OEMs, technology developers, and internal stakeholders to develop and implement next-generation automation, robotics, machine vision, AI-enabled inspection, and digital manufacturing technologies.
- Equipment & Systems Evaluation: Evaluate and qualify processing controls, packaging systems, robotics, machine vision, X-ray, metal detection, checkweighing, traceability, and end-of-line automation solutions for operational effectiveness and scalability.
- Supplier & System Assessment: Conduct supplier audits, factory evaluations, equipment reviews, and system validation activities to identify safety, reliability, compliance, and integration risks early in the project lifecycle.
- Capital Project Leadership: Serve as the controls, automation, or engineering lead and subject matter expert for strategic capital projects, including equipment design review, U.S. compliance modifications, and implementation support.
WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related field and 5+ years of relevant experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, or manufacturing engineering; or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, industrial networking, controls architecture, and machine safety systems.
- Experience qualifying and validating manufacturing equipment.
- Experience with robotics, machine vision, inspection technologies, and safety systems.
- Experience working with global engineering teams, international OEMs, and multi-site manufacturing organizations preferred.
- Knowledge of OSHA, ANSI, RIA, NFPA, UL, and electrical code requirements.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills.
- Ability to travel domestically greater than 50% and internationally as required.
OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:
Qualification List
- Mandarin language skills and functional safety certifications are a plus.
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. Learn more about our benefits package here.
Relocation Package Available YesEEO 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience
- 5+ years of relevant experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, or manufacturing engineering
- Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, industrial networking, controls architecture, and machine safety systems
- Experience qualifying and validating manufacturing equipment
- Experience with robotics, machine vision, inspection technologies, and safety systems
- Knowledge of OSHA, ANSI, RIA, NFPA, UL, and electrical code requirements
- Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills
- Ability to travel domestically more than 50% and internationally as required
- Experience working with global engineering teams, international OEMs, and multi-site manufacturing organizations
- Mandarin language skills
- Functional safety certifications
Smithfield Foods Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Smithfield Foods and has not been reviewed or approved by Smithfield Foods.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support stands out as a strong component of the package, with a 401(k) match repeatedly characterized as competitive. This element is portrayed as a meaningful contributor to overall total rewards beyond base pay.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare offerings are described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, prescription, disability, and life coverage. Insurance quality is often positioned as a notable strength relative to other parts of the employment experience.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is frequently framed as competitive for the industry, particularly for skilled trades and certain salaried roles. Overtime availability is depicted as a major lever that can materially increase take-home pay in many settings.
Smithfield Foods Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly®" and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others.
