Lead Engineer Controls (Onsite)
Tyson Foods · Corporate Meadow - Springdale, AR
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Controls
- Travel
- 25%
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 4 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management controls role at Tyson Foods (food & beverage) in Corporate Meadow - Springdale, AR. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- PLC
- Day to day
- about 25% travel · relocation help
- Openings
- 3 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Arkansas: typical posted base $82k–$120k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 10 controls engineer openings in Arkansas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Arkansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 9 other live controls postings in Arkansas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (5+ vs 8+)
Typical $82k–$120k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 8+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 80%
- Automation 60%
- Robotics 50%
- Team leadership 20%
- MES 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
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
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Tyson Foods
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 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
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 25% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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
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 Tyson FoodsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Requirements
Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another technical field preferred. Equivalent work experience is acceptable if the individual demonstrates hands-on technical ability to execute connectivity work directly, communication skills to lead the program, and project management capability.
Experience: 5+ years working with plant processes and equipment, including direct, hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting machine connectivity — not solely oversight or coordination of others performing the work.
Technical Skills: Strong, hands-on knowledge of machine PLCs and industrial connectivity/networking (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT, Ethernet/IP, or comparable protocols). Proficient in Microsoft Office. Background in Ignition and Anaplan a plus.
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication. Demonstrated ability to translate technical information for non-technical stakeholders and vice versa.
Special Skills: Builds rapport quickly with plant teams and develops strong long-term relationships. Performs the technical work personally when needed, rather than relying solely on others to execute. Thrives in ambiguity and operates as a self-starter.
requirements
We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.
If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here .
Unsolicited Assistance: Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Summary
This position's primary responsibility is to lead the Smart Factory "Are We Winning" Program's Connectivity Effort across Tyson Foods' production facilities. This is a hands-on technical role as much as a program-management role — the individual will personally perform connectivity configuration and troubleshooting, not simply direct others who do. Program workflow:
- •Work with plant leadership to identify key processing equipment requiring connectivity. (Non-technical communication)
- •Work directly with plant technical personnel and machine OEMs to design the connectivity plan — including hands-on evaluation of PLC architecture, network topology, and data availability at the machine. (Technical / PLC background and technical communication)
- •Personally configure, test, and troubleshoot connectivity — protocol setup, PLC data mapping, and network integration — stepping in as the technical resource when plant or contractor capability falls short. (Hands-on technical execution)
- •Work with plant leadership, technical personnel, integrators, contractors, and corporate finance on cost estimates, project plans/timelines, and CIR building. (Communication and project management)
- •Drive execution across all teams and personnel involved to ensure each project delivers on schedule and at cost. (Project management)
- •Manage 10–20 projects simultaneously. (Multi-project program management)
Travel: 25%
- •* Not eligible for immigration/work authorization support now or in the future **
- •* Not eligible for relocation assistance **
All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI-enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.
Relocation Assistance Eligible
No
Work Shift
1ST SHIFT (United States of America)
Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.
Hourly Applicants ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.
The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical