Food & Beverage Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Virginia
Virginia's food and beverage industry spans from Smithfield Foods' pork processing headquarters to craft breweries in Richmond and Northern Virginia's restaurant chains. Major employers like Tyson Foods, Mars Wrigley, and Anheuser-Busch sponsor international talent for roles in food science, supply chain management, and culinary operations across Richmond, Norfolk, and the DC metro area.
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About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
About the role
We are now recruiting for a Process Automation Engineer at our facility in Harrisonburg, VA. In this strategically important role, the successful candidate will be focused on driving process improvement and sustainability through the delivery of a "best in class" Automation environment.
Key responsibilities
- Troubleshoot, fix / repair and support existing automation equipment, electrical control panels and communication protocols (e.g. ethernet, device net, Profibus and Modbus).
- Identify opportunities and carry out feasibility studies for project automation within existing processes and projects.
- Automation System Design: Design, develop, and implement electrical automation systems and controls for industrial processes, machinery, and manufacturing equipment.
- Designing SCADA/DCS system, architecture finalization, preparing I/O list, selecting communication protocol.
- PLC Programming: Develop and maintain PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) programs to automate and control processes efficiently. Troubleshoot PLC-related issues.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development: Design and create user-friendly HMI interfaces for operators to monitor and control automation systems. Should be able to manage Scada Servers, HMIs and SCADA database, knowledge of Wonderware-InTouch will be added advantage.
- Sensor Integration: Select, install, and calibrate various sensors, transducers, and instruments to gather data and provide feedback for control systems.
- Networking and Communication: Establish communication protocols between different devices, controllers, and systems, including Ethernet, Modbus, OPC, RS232, RS-485 and Profibus.
- Preparing the calibration schedule for various instruments like Thermocouple, Pressure transducers, Flow meters.
- Update documentation, drawings for all automation-related equipment.
Qualifications and skills
- Degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication or in Instrumentation and Control.
- 3+ years’ experience in process automation within an industrial or manufacturing environment. Dairy or food manufacturing and / or spray drying experience is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in SCADA, PLC & HMI programming tools and software (e.g., Wonderware Archestra, Schneider, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, ABB).
- Set-up of new Scada and management of Scada Instrumentation.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols and networking (e.g. firewall, ethernet switches, LIU, FO cables, communication cables and other network equipment).
- Familiarity with industrial sensors, actuators, and control devices including motor control using starters and VFD.
- Strong understanding of electrical and control system design principles.
- Excellent project management, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Effective communication skills with the ability to interact with clients, vendors, contractors etc. to understand requirements and deliver the project.
The typical hiring range for this role is $70,100 to $122,000 annually and is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, location, etc. In addition to your pay, Kerry offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and retirement contribution (all benefits and incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).
Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).
We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.

About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
About the role
We are now recruiting for a Process Automation Engineer at our facility in Harrisonburg, VA. In this strategically important role, the successful candidate will be focused on driving process improvement and sustainability through the delivery of a "best in class" Automation environment.
Key responsibilities
- Troubleshoot, fix / repair and support existing automation equipment, electrical control panels and communication protocols (e.g. ethernet, device net, Profibus and Modbus).
- Identify opportunities and carry out feasibility studies for project automation within existing processes and projects.
- Automation System Design: Design, develop, and implement electrical automation systems and controls for industrial processes, machinery, and manufacturing equipment.
- Designing SCADA/DCS system, architecture finalization, preparing I/O list, selecting communication protocol.
- PLC Programming: Develop and maintain PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) programs to automate and control processes efficiently. Troubleshoot PLC-related issues.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development: Design and create user-friendly HMI interfaces for operators to monitor and control automation systems. Should be able to manage Scada Servers, HMIs and SCADA database, knowledge of Wonderware-InTouch will be added advantage.
- Sensor Integration: Select, install, and calibrate various sensors, transducers, and instruments to gather data and provide feedback for control systems.
- Networking and Communication: Establish communication protocols between different devices, controllers, and systems, including Ethernet, Modbus, OPC, RS232, RS-485 and Profibus.
- Preparing the calibration schedule for various instruments like Thermocouple, Pressure transducers, Flow meters.
- Update documentation, drawings for all automation-related equipment.
Qualifications and skills
- Degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication or in Instrumentation and Control.
- 3+ years’ experience in process automation within an industrial or manufacturing environment. Dairy or food manufacturing and / or spray drying experience is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in SCADA, PLC & HMI programming tools and software (e.g., Wonderware Archestra, Schneider, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, ABB).
- Set-up of new Scada and management of Scada Instrumentation.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols and networking (e.g. firewall, ethernet switches, LIU, FO cables, communication cables and other network equipment).
- Familiarity with industrial sensors, actuators, and control devices including motor control using starters and VFD.
- Strong understanding of electrical and control system design principles.
- Excellent project management, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Effective communication skills with the ability to interact with clients, vendors, contractors etc. to understand requirements and deliver the project.
The typical hiring range for this role is $70,100 to $122,000 annually and is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, location, etc. In addition to your pay, Kerry offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and retirement contribution (all benefits and incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).
Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).
We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
Food & Beverage Job Roles in Virginia
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in VirginiaFood & Beverage Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food & beverage companies in Virginia sponsor work visas?
Major sponsors include Smithfield Foods (pork processing), Mars Wrigley (confectionery), Tyson Foods (poultry processing), and Anheuser-Busch (brewing). Regional employers like King's Hawaiian, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, and growing craft breweries in Richmond also sponsor H-1B visas for food scientists, quality assurance managers, and supply chain specialists.
How to find food & beverage visa sponsorship jobs in Virginia?
Use Migrate Mate to search specifically for Virginia food and beverage positions that offer visa sponsorship. Filter by location (Richmond, Norfolk, Northern Virginia) and role type (food science, operations management, culinary). Many positions are concentrated around major processing facilities and the Hampton Roads port area for distribution roles.
What visa types are most common for food & beverage jobs in Virginia?
H-1B visas dominate for food scientists, quality assurance managers, and supply chain analysts at companies like Smithfield and Mars. TN visas work for Canadian food technologists. Some larger processors use L-1 visas for transferring international managers, while specialty restaurants occasionally sponsor O-1 visas for executive chefs with international recognition.
Which Virginia cities have the most food & beverage sponsorship opportunities?
Richmond leads with Mars Wrigley, craft breweries, and restaurant chains. Norfolk benefits from port-related food distribution roles. Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington) offers positions with national restaurant chains and food service companies. Smithfield focuses hiring around its Hampton Roads headquarters for processing and logistics roles.
Are there special considerations for food & beverage visa sponsorship in Virginia?
Virginia's proximity to Washington DC creates higher prevailing wages for Northern Virginia positions. The state's agricultural base means seasonal food processing roles that may not qualify for H-1B sponsorship. Virginia Tech and VCU provide pipeline talent for food science roles, creating competition but also showing employer commitment to the field.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored food & beverage jobs in Virginia?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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