Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Digital Continuous Improvement

Hopkins, Minnesota

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Job ID 26-2352 Date posted Apr. 20, 2026 Category Engineering

At CJ Schwan’s, we don’t just make food — we help create moments that matter. From kids devouring pizza after soccer practice, to students laughing over dumplings in a cafeteria, to families enjoying pie during the holidays, our team members play an important role in bringing those everyday moments to life. Our portfolio includes iconic pizzas, global flavors and timeless desserts from brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants and just about everywhere people shop and eat, our products reflect a commitment to quality, innovation and the power of food to bring people together.

As a Sr. Manager of our manufacturing-based Digital Continuous Improvement, you are a dual-mandate leader responsible for leading the integration and adoption of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) while supporting continuous improvement efforts across a regional plant network. Reporting to the Director of Continuous Improvement, this role is the execution engine for Industry 4.0 across our manufacturing network. You will own end-to-end MES deployment, from OT infrastructure readiness through go-live commissioning, while leading the integration of IIoT, edge computing, and automation systems that connect the shop floor to enterprise data. This is a deeply technical, site-facing role suited to someone who thrives in deployment environments, not conference rooms. This position requires up to 50% domestic travel.

What You Will Do:

Lead end-to-end MES deployment across any of our 16 regional plant sites, from pre-implementation readiness through commissioning, line validation, and production ramp-up.
Conduct manufacturing line readiness assessments covering equipment connectivity, PLC/SCADA integration, edge node architecture, and OT network infrastructure ahead of each deployment.
Define phased rollout roadmaps with clear stage-gate criteria, risk mitigation plans, and deployment-based milestones; serve as primary on-site technical lead during go-live and stabilization.
Partner with IT/OT and Automation Engineering teams to validate and execute integration requirements between MES, ERP, SCADA, historian, and quality systems.
Ensure all MES and digital system configurations comply with system validation (CSV), data integrity (21 CFR Part 11 where applicable), cybersecurity, and OT security requirements Architect and implement IIoT connectivity solutions linking shop-floor equipment, edge devices, and plant historians to MES and operational data layers.
Define standards for edge computing deployments, including hardware selection, data pre-processing logic, and latency requirements; to support real-time production visibility and closed-loop control.
Collaborate with Controls and Automation Engineering to integrate PLC/SCADA programs with MES workflows, ensuring accurate electronic work instruction execution, genealogy capture, and quality event triggering.

What You Will Bring:

8+ years in manufacturing operations, controls engineering, or OT/MES roles, with at least 3 years directly leading MES or automation integration deployments across multiple plant sites.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, Electrical/Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
Hands-on PLC/SCADA and MES deployment experience required; familiarity with OPC-UA, MQTT, edge computing hardware, and industrial networking strongly preferred.
Proven ability to manage systems integrators, OEM vendors, and cross-functional engineering teams through complex, multi-site deployment programs.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, primarily deployment-based travel to support go-lives, commissioning, and production ramp-up activities.

What We Offer:

What We Offer:

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $200,000 annually with eligibility for a 20% annual incentive bonus that is based on organizational performance. The pay range represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to education, skills, work experience, certifications, geography, etc. As such, starting pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a strong foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, and wellbeing support programs.

The employing subsidiaries of Schwan's Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin, or other protected class.

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