Automation Engineer

Summary

Provides engineering support for plant automation, process control, instrumentation, and industrial control systems across manufacturing operations. Responsible for supporting, troubleshooting, maintaining, and improving DCS, PLC, HMI, historian, SIS, and industrial communication systems to improve plant safety, operational performance, equipment availability, and production efficiency. Supports daily plant operations, outage activities, system upgrades, and automation-related capital projects while working closely with operations, maintenance, E/I technicians, and engineering personnel.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides day-to-day engineering support for plant automation and process control systems
• Troubleshoots and resolves control system, instrumentation, and industrial network issues impacting plant operations
• Maintains and improves DCS, PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian, and industrial communication systems
• Supports lifecycle management, upgrades, migrations, backups, and modernization of automation infrastructure
• Maintain control system documentation, logic backups, network drawings, and configuration records
• Supports industrial control system cybersecurity initiatives and network segmentation strategies
• Provides after-hours and outage support for critical operational issues when required
• Identify and implement control system improvements that improve safety, throughput, efficiency, and product quality
• Analyze operational and historian data to identify process and system improvement opportunities
• Support control loop tuning, sequencing improvements, alarm management, and operational optimization
• Aid operations and maintenance teams with troubleshooting and startup activities
• Maintain and improve plant historian systems including AVEVA PI and associated interfaces
• Lead or participate in Management of Change activities involving automation, instrumentation, and control system modifications
• Ensure changes comply with plant safety, environmental, operational, and cybersecurity requirements
• Care for coordination implementation activities with operations, maintenance, engineering, and contractors
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation associated with system changes
• Support automation and controls projects from concept through startup and commissioning
• Aid with development of project scopes, technical specifications, schedules, and budgets
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup activities
• Coordinate with contractors, vendors, and internal departments during project execution
• Support plant outage and turnaround activities related to automation systems
• Provide technical guidance and support for operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel
• Aid in the development and delivery of training related to automation systems and operational changes
• Support development and standardization of plant automation practices and procedures

Prefered Skills

• ABB DCS systems
• Allen-Bradley PLC systems including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PLC-5, and SLC-500
• Triconex safety instrumented systems
• FactoryTalk View HMI/SCADA systems
• AVEVA PI Historian and associated interfaces
• Industrial networking including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, fiber infrastructure, and managed switches
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and motor control systems
• OPC communications and industrial data integration systems

Prefered Qualifications

• Experience in heavy industrial, chemical, refining, mining, power generation, or manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with Management of Change (MoC) processes
• Internship, co-op, or project experience involving industrial automation systems
• ISA or related technical certifications

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 2–5 years of automation, controls, or process control experience in an industrial environment
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical critical thinking skills
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, P&IDs, loop drawings, and control schematics
• Effective communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams

Physical Including Drug Screening

• Required Qualifications
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work in confined or tight spaces
• Frequent walking, standing, bending, and use of hand tools
• Ability to wear required PPE including FR clothing, hard hat, respirator, and safety harness when required