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Process Automation Engineer - Cedar Rapids, IA

ADM · Cedar Rapids, IA

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Level
Engineer
Team
Controls
Degree
Preferred
Experience asked
2+ years
Industry
Food & beverage
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level controls role at ADM (food & beverage) in Cedar Rapids, IA. Additionally, they will support and advance the modernization, standardization, and documentation of process automation systems.

They ask for
2+ years · degree preferred
Tools it names
PLC, Automation, EHS / safety
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $98k–$140k.

Median of the low and high ends of 339 live postings that list pay, out of 994 controls engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 12 other live controls postings in Iowa.

Experience asked
Less than usual (2+ vs 4+)

Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Automation 69%
  • ✓ PLC 62%
  • Robotics 46%
  • Tooling 38%
  • ✓ Team leadership 38%
  • Root cause 23%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 2+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coveragePromotion path mentionedLifts up to 40 lbs

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at ADM

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from ADMAs posted on their careers site.Show

Requirements

  • ✓Understands and is accountable for full compliance with safety and other EHS

requirements

  • ✓Develop and maintain knowledge of production processes, equipment and operations in the interest of developing, improving and maintaining process controls and safety interlocks
  • ✓Develop or modify controls programming and configurations to achieve desired automation solutions, and troubleshoot systems to identify and resolve hardware or software deficiencies
  • ✓Develop and maintain documentation of industrial automation and controls hardware and software related to process automation control systems
  • ✓Pursue and maintain industry specific training and certifications relative to this position and for career advancement
  • ✓Possess ability to skillfully manage multiple projects simultaneously and succeed in an environment of competing priorities
  • ✓Maintain awareness of and adhere to cybersecurity fundamentals
  • ✓Work with third-party suppliers / contractors (where applicable)
  • ✓Ability to effectively coach and develop other colleagues
  • ✓Possess strong documentation and organizational skills
  • ✓Possess strong communication skills
  • ✓Ability to work well within groups and with minimal supervision to meet team and project goals
  • ✓Act as a highly-motivated, self-starter
  • ✓Capable of working in extreme temperatures, including the ability to climb stairs, lift and move a minimum of 40 pounds, and sit and stand for long periods of time; should be able to work in confined spaces and at heights
  • ✓Available for on-call rotation for off-hours, holiday and weekend coverage
  • ✓Occasional company travel may be required

Required Qualifications

  • ✓2+ years of experience with process control in an industrial environment
  • ✓Experience with or desire to learn industrial controls programming for multiple systems
  • ✓Ability to troubleshoot and repair issues with process control systems and work safely with and around AC & DC voltages up to 120V
  • ✓Knowledge of industrial process control systems including controllers, instrumentation, AC/DC electrical systems, Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams

Preferred Qualifications

  • ✓An Associates degree in a technical area; a Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Electrical, Computer, or Automation Engineering is preferred
  • ✓Experience with distributed control systems; Emerson DeltaV, Valmet (Novatech) D/3 systems, AVEVA Wonderware, or Rockwell Automation PlantPAx preferred
  • ✓Experience with industrial controls platforms, Allen Bradley PLCs or Emerson DeltaV platforms preferred
  • ✓Familiarity with data historians such as Aveva PI
  • ✓Familiarity with Industrial Networks (ie. TCP/IP, ControlNet®, DH+, Modbus, etc.)

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

Show full description ↓

Process Automation Engineer – Cedar Rapids, IA

This is a full time, exempt position

Job Description

The Process Automation Engineer will provide support for the industrial control systems across the ADM Cedar Rapids complex to maintain and improve operations through project implementation, troubleshooting, and standard work. They will work with Operations Teams and other Technology Centers to execute projects while applying global standards.

This person will proactively seek opportunities for process automation to mitigate risk, improve efficiency, and drive optimization projects. Additionally, they will support and advance the modernization, standardization, and documentation of process automation systems.

The Process Automation Engineer will also contribute to plant culture by supporting safety initiatives and improvement projects.

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