Plant Manager Jobs in California
Plant Manager jobs in California are in strong demand, concentrated in food and beverage processing, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, logistics and distribution, and aerospace components, with openings at every level from shift supervisor stepping into their first plant role through seasoned senior operations leaders. The largest hiring activity is centered in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and the Bay Area, where companies like Nestlé, Raytheon Technologies, and McCormick operate major California facilities. The most sought-after specialties include lean manufacturing, food safety compliance under California's regulatory framework, and high-volume consumer goods production. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description Summary:
At The Coca-Cola Company, we bring together the power of our people, our brands, technology and innovation to refresh the world and make a difference. Our manufacturing operations are critical to delivering quality products safely, efficiently and reliably, and automation plays an increasingly important role in how we build the manufacturing environment of the future.
The Senior Manager, Automation and Controls will be based at our Ontario, California facility and will lead automation and controls capabilities that support safe, reliable and efficient manufacturing operations. This role will have primary responsibility for the Ontario facility while providing limited automation and controls support to our Portland facility, requiring approximately 5% travel.
This position will lead a small team of Automation and Controls Technicians and serve as a senior technical resource for automation, controls, instrumentation and manufacturing systems. The role will partner closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Quality, Safety and Information Technology teams to improve equipment reliability, strengthen controls infrastructure, support capital projects and advance manufacturing technology.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in industrial automation and controls with practical manufacturing experience, strong problem-solving capabilities and effective people leadership. They bring a continuous-improvement mindset and can translate operational challenges into sustainable automation solutions while developing the technical capabilities of their team.
Key Responsibilities and Position-Related Functions
- Lead and develop a small team of Automation and Controls Technicians, establishing clear priorities, technical standards, development plans and expectations for safe and effective execution.
- Provide technical leadership for the Ontario manufacturing facility across industrial automation, programmable logic controllers (Rockwell PLC Platform), human-machine interfaces, supervisory control systems, instrumentation, industrial networks, motion control and related manufacturing technologies.
- Ignition Software Platform and Database Development experience.
- Provide limited automation and controls support for the Portland facility, including technical troubleshooting, project consultation and alignment on controls standards, with approximately 5% travel.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams to identify chronic equipment issues, determine root causes and implement controls and automation solutions that improve reliability, throughput and operating performance.
- Lead troubleshooting of complex controls and automation issues, using structured problem-solving, equipment data and technical expertise to reduce downtime and prevent recurrence.
- Establish and maintain controls standards, system documentation, software backups, change-management practices and lifecycle strategies for automation assets.
- Support capital projects from concept through commissioning by developing technical requirements, evaluating automation solutions, reviewing control system designs and ensuring successful installation, testing, start-up and handover.
- Partner with internal teams, original equipment manufacturers, system integrators and other technical suppliers to ensure automation solutions meet operational requirements and established Coca-Cola standards.
- Develop strategies for managing aging or obsolete controls hardware and software, prioritizing replacements based on operational risk, equipment criticality and business needs.
- Strengthen preventive and predictive maintenance practices for automation and controls systems to improve equipment availability and reduce unplanned failures.
- Use manufacturing and controls data to identify performance trends, recurring losses and improvement opportunities, translating data into actionable recommendations.
- Advance digital manufacturing capabilities by evaluating appropriate applications of connected systems, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence-enabled tools to improve troubleshooting, reliability and decision-making.
- Collaborate with Information Technology and appropriate cybersecurity partners to help protect industrial control environments, maintain appropriate system access and support secure industrial network architecture.
- Ensure automation work supports applicable safety, quality, environmental and regulatory requirements, including safe equipment design and control of hazardous energy.
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to simplify systems, improve equipment performance, reduce waste and energy consumption, and increase the long-term reliability and maintainability of manufacturing assets. Build technical capability across the organization through coaching, documentation, standardized troubleshooting practices and knowledge sharing with technicians, maintenance teams and other manufacturing partners.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, electrical systems or manufacturing engineering, preferably within a high-speed manufacturing, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods or similarly complex production environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading, supervising or developing automation, controls or technical professionals in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong hands-on knowledge of programmable logic controller programming, human-machine interfaces, industrial controls, instrumentation, variable-frequency drives, servo or motion systems and industrial communication networks.
- Experience troubleshooting complex automated equipment and applying structured root-cause analysis to recurring equipment and controls failures.
- Experience supporting manufacturing capital projects, including controls specifications, design review, system integration, factory or site acceptance testing, commissioning and start-up.
- Working knowledge of industrial control system cybersecurity principles, network segmentation, access management, backup and recovery practices, and disciplined automation change management.
- Strong data literacy with the ability to use manufacturing information, equipment data and digital tools to identify trends, diagnose performance issues and prioritize improvement opportunities.
- Demonstrated digital fluency and an understanding of how advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools can responsibly support manufacturing reliability, troubleshooting, predictive maintenance and operational decision-making.
- Knowledge of electrical and machine safety practices and applicable industrial standards, with the ability to integrate safety requirements into automation and controls solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing technical priorities, respond effectively to critical manufacturing issues and balance immediate production needs with sustainable long-term solutions.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues to technical and non-technical partners and influence decisions across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety and Information Technology.
- Experience managing vendors, system integrators and original equipment manufacturers, including technical scope, execution expectations and solution quality.
- Proven ability to coach and develop technical team members while building accountability, knowledge sharing and consistent technical practices.
- Continuous-improvement mindset with experience applying structured problem-solving, reliability or Lean manufacturing methods to improve manufacturing performance.
- Understanding of sustainability principles and the role automation can play in reducing energy consumption, material loss, waste and manufacturing inefficiency. Ability to provide limited support to the Portland facility and travel approximately 5% based on business needs.
What We’ll Do for You
- Provide the opportunity to shape automation and controls capabilities at a critical manufacturing facility while directly influencing safety, reliability, productivity and the evolution of our manufacturing technology.
- Give you the opportunity to lead and develop a specialized technical team while remaining closely connected to hands-on engineering, troubleshooting and manufacturing improvement work.
- Expand your exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies, digital tools, data analytics and emerging artificial intelligence applications as we continue to evolve how our manufacturing operations work.
- Connect you with engineering, operations and technical professionals across the Coca-Cola system, providing opportunities to broaden your manufacturing expertise while solving meaningful operational challenges.
Skills:
Cross-Functional Teamwork, Efficiency Optimization, Program Management, Quality by Design, Risk Assessments, Technical InnovationPay Range:
United States: 131,000 - 175,000 USD
Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.
Location(s):
United States of AmericaCity/Cities:
OntarioTravel Required:
00% - 25%Relocation Provided:
YesJob Posting End Date:
December 4, 2026Our Purpose and Growth Culture:
We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.Job Description Summary:
At The Coca-Cola Company, we bring together the power of our people, our brands, technology and innovation to refresh the world and make a difference. Our manufacturing operations are critical to delivering quality products safely, efficiently and reliably, and automation plays an increasingly important role in how we build the manufacturing environment of the future.
The Senior Manager, Automation and Controls will be based at our Ontario, California facility and will lead automation and controls capabilities that support safe, reliable and efficient manufacturing operations. This role will have primary responsibility for the Ontario facility while providing limited automation and controls support to our Portland facility, requiring approximately 5% travel.
This position will lead a small team of Automation and Controls Technicians and serve as a senior technical resource for automation, controls, instrumentation and manufacturing systems. The role will partner closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Quality, Safety and Information Technology teams to improve equipment reliability, strengthen controls infrastructure, support capital projects and advance manufacturing technology.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in industrial automation and controls with practical manufacturing experience, strong problem-solving capabilities and effective people leadership. They bring a continuous-improvement mindset and can translate operational challenges into sustainable automation solutions while developing the technical capabilities of their team.
Key Responsibilities and Position-Related Functions
- Lead and develop a small team of Automation and Controls Technicians, establishing clear priorities, technical standards, development plans and expectations for safe and effective execution.
- Provide technical leadership for the Ontario manufacturing facility across industrial automation, programmable logic controllers (Rockwell PLC Platform), human-machine interfaces, supervisory control systems, instrumentation, industrial networks, motion control and related manufacturing technologies.
- Ignition Software Platform and Database Development experience.
- Provide limited automation and controls support for the Portland facility, including technical troubleshooting, project consultation and alignment on controls standards, with approximately 5% travel.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams to identify chronic equipment issues, determine root causes and implement controls and automation solutions that improve reliability, throughput and operating performance.
- Lead troubleshooting of complex controls and automation issues, using structured problem-solving, equipment data and technical expertise to reduce downtime and prevent recurrence.
- Establish and maintain controls standards, system documentation, software backups, change-management practices and lifecycle strategies for automation assets.
- Support capital projects from concept through commissioning by developing technical requirements, evaluating automation solutions, reviewing control system designs and ensuring successful installation, testing, start-up and handover.
- Partner with internal teams, original equipment manufacturers, system integrators and other technical suppliers to ensure automation solutions meet operational requirements and established Coca-Cola standards.
- Develop strategies for managing aging or obsolete controls hardware and software, prioritizing replacements based on operational risk, equipment criticality and business needs.
- Strengthen preventive and predictive maintenance practices for automation and controls systems to improve equipment availability and reduce unplanned failures.
- Use manufacturing and controls data to identify performance trends, recurring losses and improvement opportunities, translating data into actionable recommendations.
- Advance digital manufacturing capabilities by evaluating appropriate applications of connected systems, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence-enabled tools to improve troubleshooting, reliability and decision-making.
- Collaborate with Information Technology and appropriate cybersecurity partners to help protect industrial control environments, maintain appropriate system access and support secure industrial network architecture.
- Ensure automation work supports applicable safety, quality, environmental and regulatory requirements, including safe equipment design and control of hazardous energy.
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to simplify systems, improve equipment performance, reduce waste and energy consumption, and increase the long-term reliability and maintainability of manufacturing assets. Build technical capability across the organization through coaching, documentation, standardized troubleshooting practices and knowledge sharing with technicians, maintenance teams and other manufacturing partners.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, electrical systems or manufacturing engineering, preferably within a high-speed manufacturing, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods or similarly complex production environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading, supervising or developing automation, controls or technical professionals in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong hands-on knowledge of programmable logic controller programming, human-machine interfaces, industrial controls, instrumentation, variable-frequency drives, servo or motion systems and industrial communication networks.
- Experience troubleshooting complex automated equipment and applying structured root-cause analysis to recurring equipment and controls failures.
- Experience supporting manufacturing capital projects, including controls specifications, design review, system integration, factory or site acceptance testing, commissioning and start-up.
- Working knowledge of industrial control system cybersecurity principles, network segmentation, access management, backup and recovery practices, and disciplined automation change management.
- Strong data literacy with the ability to use manufacturing information, equipment data and digital tools to identify trends, diagnose performance issues and prioritize improvement opportunities.
- Demonstrated digital fluency and an understanding of how advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools can responsibly support manufacturing reliability, troubleshooting, predictive maintenance and operational decision-making.
- Knowledge of electrical and machine safety practices and applicable industrial standards, with the ability to integrate safety requirements into automation and controls solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing technical priorities, respond effectively to critical manufacturing issues and balance immediate production needs with sustainable long-term solutions.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues to technical and non-technical partners and influence decisions across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety and Information Technology.
- Experience managing vendors, system integrators and original equipment manufacturers, including technical scope, execution expectations and solution quality.
- Proven ability to coach and develop technical team members while building accountability, knowledge sharing and consistent technical practices.
- Continuous-improvement mindset with experience applying structured problem-solving, reliability or Lean manufacturing methods to improve manufacturing performance.
- Understanding of sustainability principles and the role automation can play in reducing energy consumption, material loss, waste and manufacturing inefficiency. Ability to provide limited support to the Portland facility and travel approximately 5% based on business needs.
What We’ll Do for You
- Provide the opportunity to shape automation and controls capabilities at a critical manufacturing facility while directly influencing safety, reliability, productivity and the evolution of our manufacturing technology.
- Give you the opportunity to lead and develop a specialized technical team while remaining closely connected to hands-on engineering, troubleshooting and manufacturing improvement work.
- Expand your exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies, digital tools, data analytics and emerging artificial intelligence applications as we continue to evolve how our manufacturing operations work.
- Connect you with engineering, operations and technical professionals across the Coca-Cola system, providing opportunities to broaden your manufacturing expertise while solving meaningful operational challenges.
Skills:
Cross-Functional Teamwork, Efficiency Optimization, Program Management, Quality by Design, Risk Assessments, Technical InnovationPay Range:
United States: 131,000 - 175,000 USD
Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.
Location(s):
United States of AmericaCity/Cities:
OntarioTravel Required:
00% - 25%Relocation Provided:
YesJob Posting End Date:
December 4, 2026Our Purpose and Growth Culture:
We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.See All 79 Plant Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Plant Manager JobsPlant Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Plant Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Chemicals & Materials
- Retail
- Education
- Food & Beverage
- Science & Research
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in plant manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or a related field required
- Five or more years of progressive plant or production management experience
- Demonstrated experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
- Familiarity with California OSHA Title 8 standards and Cal/EPA environmental compliance
- Proven ability to manage large hourly and salaried workforces across multiple shifts
- Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle for production planning and reporting
Plant Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a plant manager in California?
Most plant managers in California reach the role by combining a bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or supply chain management with progressive supervisory experience on the production floor. California does not require a state-issued license specific to plant management, but roles in food manufacturing often require familiarity with the California Department of Public Health's food facility registration process. Many employers also expect Lean or Six Sigma certification as a practical credential.
How much do plant managers make in California?
Plant managers in California earn a median of about $132,620 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,950 for the lowest 10% to over $222,020 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire plant managers in California?
Employers hiring plant managers in California right now include Foster Farms, Constellation Energy, and Holliday Rock Co., based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense mix of food processing, defense manufacturing, and consumer goods production means hiring is distributed across both large multinational operations and mid-sized regional facilities.
Which California cities have the most plant manager jobs?
Los Angeles, Lodi, and Fresno account for the highest concentration of plant manager openings in California. Los Angeles and the Inland Empire drive volume through large-scale food processing, apparel manufacturing, and distribution center operations, while the Bay Area's demand is shaped by semiconductor fabrication and advanced electronics assembly requiring experienced operations leadership.
Are there remote plant manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Plant management is fundamentally an on-site role, requiring direct oversight of production lines, equipment, and hourly staff. About 0% of plant manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions typically involve corporate or multi-site operations oversight rather than hands-on floor management.
How can I get hired as a plant manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a production supervisor or manufacturing team lead role first. Large California food and beverage manufacturers, including those operating facilities in the San Joaquin Valley and Inland Empire, regularly hire shift supervisors and operations coordinators who lack direct plant management experience. Pursuing a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and gaining familiarity with California OSHA Title 8 compliance strengthens candidacy considerably for these stepping-stone positions.
Where can I find and apply to plant manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to plant manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries including food processing, electronics manufacturing, and distribution. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to each employer.
See All 79 Plant Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Plant Manager Jobs