Automation and Controls Engineer

Job Title: Automation & Controls Engineer

Department: Engineering

Reports To: Engineering Manager

FLSA: Exempt

Status: Full Time

Schedule: Monday-Friday

Direct Reports: None

Location: Winter Haven, FL

A multi-national well-established Original Equipment Manufacturer. Our brands have a long-standing and significant presence and brand recognition within their target markets and industries with a strong emphasis on total customer satisfaction.

The Gulftech International family of companies are the world’s recognized leaders in engineering, manufacturing, lease, sale and service of industrial food processing machinery. Our companies serve the largest food production and processing companies across the globe.

The Automation & Controls Engineer is responsible for creation, design, and change management of machine control and safety systems for food processing equipment in a washdown environment. Work includes design of PLC/PCB hardware and software, motor controls, pneumatic controls, vision system, cabling, interlock devices, wiring and networking components. Documentation requirements include creation and maintenance of schematics and compiled code.

• Designs and assistance in the design of automation processes for producing high yield and high-quality food products, incorporating machinery developed by the company

• Develop design concepts for improving machinery and processes
• Communicates with customers and company staff on Automation issues relating to processes which include product yield, quality, throughput, safety systems, information systems, machinery and process designs
• Develop training plans for the Automation & Controls Engineer technology that is released for Production
• Support customer issues remotely upon request from the A&C Manager
• Find and propose new innovations for the Sales and Management teams
• Help the Sales and Management teams design and implement innovation
• Work closely with the mechanical engineering team on new product development
• Assist in PLC and HMI program standardization
• Assist start-ups of newly installed equipment
• Review automation design packages
• Assist the Engineering Manager with budgeting department expenses for A&C New Product Development related activities
• Assist the Engineering Manager with budgeting hours for A&C New Product Development related activities
• Assist the Supply Chain in electrical component issues
• Suggest and implement machine improvements
• Work with the A&C Manager on all A&C related items

• Follows proper safety procedures and safeguards others’ safety at all times, understanding the obligation to refuse to perform any tasks that are unsafe
• Provides consultation services on process controls and other Automation and Control issues for both domestic and international company directors
• Accept travel assignments both domestic and international to make service calls to both existing and potential customers
• Provides consultation service to customers on Automation and Control issues
• Performs and assists in performing process control evaluations at customer sites
• Assists in designing systems to collect and provide machinery and systems process data files for analysis
• Initiates and assists in commissioning of new controls installations at customer sites
• Perform all other duties and assist with special projects as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Other Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%
• Food Processing experience is a plus
• 5+ years of programming Programable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interface (HMIs), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, variable frequency drive (VFD), and SQL
• Must be…