Automation & Controls Engineer - Food & Beverage

About the job Automation & Controls Engineer - Food & Beverage

Position Overview

The Automation & Controls Engineer will be responsible for delivering automation and controls engineering solutions on projects ranging from small system upgrades to large-scale EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) initiatives. Work spans all phases of executionfront-end engineering, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and startup. Assignments may include stand-alone controls projects or full EPC automation and controls efforts in industries such as food and beverage, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, aerospace, and general manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with company and site safety standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams including engineers, specialists, designers, and project managers.
• Develop and implement software deliverables such as PLC/HMI programming, Batch, MES, servers, and virtualization.
• Lead commissioning and startup of automation systems.
• Prepare controls design documents including I/O lists, control narratives, hardware designs, layouts, and installation details.
• Create electrical design deliverables for 480
  
  VAC and below, including installation drawings and conductor schedules.
• Specify control panels and equipment, oversee vendor progress, and lead Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).
• Apply process instrumentation knowledge (temperature, pressure, flow, level, analyzers, valves) to select appropriate technologies.
• Review P&IDs with process engineers to define project controls scope.
• Perform calculations, design verification, studies, and technical reports.
• Coordinate deliverables with offsite design offices and track progress.
• Conduct quality reviews of design submittals to ensure compliance with standards and codes.
• Support construction teams on contracts and field execution.
• Monitor budgets and progress of controls deliverables.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and vendors.
• Mentor and guide less experienced team members.
• Support proposals, estimates, and development of department standards.
• Assist with field-related installation issues, testing, inspections, and commissioning activities.
• Travel to project sites as needed (approximately 30%).

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program; FE exam completion; and 3+ years of electrical engineering experience (EPC and Automation & Controls preferred).
• Masters in Electrical Engineering with 4+ years experience (preferred).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (preferred).
• Must have or be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
• Strong knowledge of engineering techniques and standards (ANSI, IEEE, NFPA, ISA, IEC, UL, ISO
  13849, ISA/IEC 61511).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and engineering tools.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Experience leading project designs, delegating work, and reviewing detailed engineering deliverables.
• Ability to mentor team members, coordinate workloads, and travel as required.

Preferred Experience

• Broad knowledge of automation and control systems: PLC, SCADA, SIS, BMS, DCS.
• Hands-on experience with Rockwell and Siemens platforms (GE, Modicon, Opto
  22, Mitsubishi, Triconex a plus).
• Familiarity with SCADA tools (Factory Talk, Wonderware, Ignition).
• Experience with MES platforms (PTC Thing Worx, Ignition/Sepasoft, Parsec TrakSYS).
• Knowledge of Plant
  
  PAX, PackML, and tools such as SISTEMA, CCW, IAB, Batch
  
  SIM, and Plant
  
  SIM.
• Experience with machine safety risk assessments (ISO
  13849 compliance).
• Process safety and SIF/SIS design compliance (ISA/IEC 61511).