Controls Engineer – Commercial Baking Systems JobPhoenix, AZ
Why You'll Love This Job
Who Is Café Valley
Since 1987, Cafe Valley has been baking smiles one cupcake, muffin, cake, and croissant at a time—putting care and craftsmanship into every product we make. Our people are the heart of our success. We’re committed to fostering a positive, team-focused workplace where collaboration, innovation, and respect are part of everyday operations—because the best baked goods come from people who love what they do. Our employees are our special ingredient. With more than 1,700 team members baking a difference every day, we operate state-of-the-art production facilities in Phoenix, AZ and Marion, IN, where quality, safety, and teamwork rise together.
What You’ll Enjoy
- Competitive base salary and bonus incentive
- Paid time off programs
- Comprehensive benefit offering including medical, dental, vision, life, disability and ancillary programs
- Working with a great team of dedicated professionals focused on a common mission
Who You Are
You are an experienced Controls Engineer with strong expertise in Allen-Bradley PLC systems and a background in commercial baking or food production environments. You bring hands-on experience designing, supporting, and optimizing automation systems across high-volume bakery production lines, including ovens, mixers, conveyors, proofers, and packaging equipment. You understand the operational demands and regulatory considerations of food manufacturing and are skilled at troubleshooting and improving system performance. You thrive in fast-paced manufacturing settings and enjoy delivering reliable automation solutions that keep production running efficiently.
Where You Will Work
Our Plant in Phoenix, AZ.
Responsibilities
What You Will Do
- Design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PanelView, FactoryTalk).
- Support automation for commercial baking processes including mixing, proofing, baking, cooling, and packaging.
- Diagnose and resolve controls-related downtime issues to ensure maximum line efficiency and throughput.
- Collaborate with maintenance, production, and quality teams to improve equipment reliability and food safety compliance.
- Develop and maintain electrical schematics, PLC programs, and technical documentation.
- Lead or support equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
- Interface with OEMs, integrators, and vendors for new and existing bakery equipment.
- Ensure systems comply with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
- Provide training and technical support to maintenance and operations teams.
Skills & Qualifications
What You Need to Be Successful
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, or equivalent experience.
- 3+ years of hands-on Allen-Bradley PLC programming and troubleshooting in an industrial environment.
- Direct experience in the commercial baking or food manufacturing industry.
- Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, VFDs, servo systems, and industrial networking.
- Experience working in high-speed, continuous production environments.
- Ability to read and create electrical schematics and control documentation.
- Comfortable working on the plant floor in a production environment.
Cafe Valley is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace. We encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.