Sr Automation Control Engineer

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site subject matter expert for PLCs, HMI/SCADA systems, industrial networks, motion control, robotics, drives, and automated equipment. Develop and maintain automation standards, control philosophies, and engineering best practices across the facility.
• Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC and HMI applications while supporting equipment upgrades and system enhancements.
• Partner with OEMs, system integrators, and vendors to commission new equipment and improve existing automation systems.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex electrical, controls, instrumentation, and automation issues to minimize downtime.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies and recommend improvements that increase reliability, throughput, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze equipment performance, downtime trends, and system data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance strategies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and troubleshooting documentation.
• Support capital projects including equipment specification, design review, installation, startup, commissioning, and validation.
• Champion a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), electrical safety standards, and company policies.
• Ensure automation systems comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in safety audits, risk assessments, and equipment safety reviews.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to maintenance technicians, controls technicians, and operations personnel.
• Train production and maintenance teams on new automation systems, controls, and equipment functionality.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, IT, and external vendors to achieve site performance objectives.
• Support project planning, resource coordination, and execution while ensuring projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field preferred. High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 7 years of experience supporting industrial automation and controls within a manufacturing, distribution, or automated material handling environment.
• Strong experience with Allen-Bradley PLC platforms (Control Logix, Compact Logix), Factory Talk, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, and industrial networking.
• Experience troubleshooting electrical controls, instrumentation, robotics, vision systems, and automated equipment.
• Experience leading automation projects, system upgrades, and equipment commissioning.
• Strong understanding of preventive maintenance, root cause analysis, Lean Manufacturing, and TPM methodologies.
• Experience working with OEMs, system integrators, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Experience in high-speed manufacturing, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, or automated distribution environments.
• Experience with SCADA systems, industrial Ethernet networks, SQL databases, and data historians.
• Knowledge of warehouse automation systems, conveyors, sortation systems, robotics, AGVs/AMRs, or ASRS equipment.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.
• Physical requirements:
  
  ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 pounds as needed; ability to walk production and warehouse floors for extended periods; ability to climb ladders, access elevated platforms, bend, kneel, and work around energized industrial equipment while following established safety procedures.
• Ability to support off-shift, weekend, and emergency troubleshooting as business needs require.