Sr Consultant – CIS
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 29, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 7, 2026. General Mills scores A on the Alion truth index.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.
OVERVIEW
As a Controls and Information Systems (CIS) Senior Consultant, you will lead development and implementation of General Mills Controls Engineering standards, applications, and tools that reduce operational losses, improve system performance, and strengthen product quality. You will lead the global rollout of plant control infrastructure and provide ongoing virtual consulting to manufacturing sites around the world. Drawing on expertise in plant engineering, preferably within the food industry and strong project management skills, you will assess challenges, solve complex controls and systems problems, improve productivity, and optimize manufacturing costs.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
80% OF TIME - BUSINESS RESULTS
- Drive productivity and system utilization while reducing manual effort, production waste, and manufacturing costs through the strategic application of controls technology.
- Develop and deploy global General Mills controls and systems solutions using plant process automation platforms, including AVEVA System Platform/Wonderware Archestra, Siemens, Ignition and Rockwell.
- Lead CIS OU engagements with plants and Identify operational, quality, and system-performance opportunities; recommend and execute standardized controls solutions that improve plant performance.
- Identify, pilot, and scale emerging controls, OT, and digital technologies (advanced visualization, IIoT, edge computing, remote diagnostics) and partner with OEMs and integrators to capture innovation.
- Lead tactical operations support through technical root-cause analysis, control-system problem resolution, diagnostic-tool development, and creation of documentation and training materials.
- Lead controls architecture and infrastructure, optimize reliability and performance, and develop plans to address system obsolescence.
- Provide strategic operations support by developing solutions to chronic problems, planning and supporting disaster-recovery activities, contributing to the long-term Controls and Information Systems vision, and strengthening partnerships with Research and Development, the Process Technology Group, and Systems Engineering.
- Lead OT technologies and provide strategic direction and Serve as a subject-matter expert, applying engineering expertise and knowledge of electrical systems, control platforms, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing plant operations.
- Work effectively in cross-cultural virtual teams; coach and mentor engineers and develop foundational Controls and Information Systems onboarding plans.
20% OF TIME - LEADERSHIP, DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
- Continue professional development through the individual development plan process and participation in relevant training, seminars, and technical fairs.
- Collaborate with functional partners, build internal and external networks, identify capability and training needs, and coordinate development opportunities.
- Share technical learnings, standards, and best practices across the Controls Engineering and Controls and Information Systems community.
- Support the One Technical Community strategy by embracing and incorporating broad performance programs, including Continuous Improvement, Safety by Design, and value-added tools and technologies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation, Electronics, Electrical, or IT Engineering from an accredited university; full-time graduation required.
Experience: 12+ years of relevant experience in Controls Engineering and controls/instrumentation systems, including plant-floor commissioning, troubleshooting, line integration, and end-to-end automation delivery from design through operational handover.
Technical Skills: Hands-on proficiency with AVEVA System Platform and OMI and/or Ignition SCADA, including graphics, alarms, dashboards, historian functions, and data logging; PLC programming with Rockwell ControlLogix/Studio 5000 and/or Siemens; industrial networks and operational technology cybersecurity (VLANs, managed switches, firewalls, IP addressing, access control, patching, segmentation, and threat response); SQL and scripting/application development using Python, Visual Basic, or .NET; VMware or Hyper-V; instrumentation, field devices, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, electrical panels, motor control centers, and single-line diagrams.
Leadership & Collaboration Skills: Ability to establish automation standards, influence without direct authority, mentor engineers, coordinate multi-site or multi-vendor technical delivery, perform root-cause analysis and problem-solving, communicate and collaborate across functions, take proactive ownership, and execute independently.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Engineering (Electronics / Instrumentation) or an MBA.
- Hands-on or conceptual experience applying Industry 4.0, digitalization, connected-worker, or data-driven manufacturing solutions.
- Experience integrating manufacturing execution systems with supervisory control, programmable controller, or plant data systems
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must meet minimum age qualifications in the country in which the job is located.