Controls Engineer

The controls engineer will lead complex control system projects as well as assist maintenance with equipment issues and coach, mentor, train, and supervise technicians.

This position will specify, design, and implement complex control systems and software programming on production equipment and associated machinery. Provides training and assists control technicians in solving complex problems. Will provide direct supervision to control technicians.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Observes OSHA and company safety rules and uses proper safety equipment. Identifies potentially dangerous electrical hazards and takes immediate corrective action. Demonstrates advanced National Electrical Code understanding by teaching others.
• Leads/supports internal control technicians, project and process engineers, maintenance & production personnel, OEMs, vendors, and contractors to design, install, interface, and start up new equipment and process controls, including electrical component selection and approval, electrical design approval, software assessments & modifications, machine acceptance testing, and problem identification and resolution.
• Will supervise, assign work, provide performance monitoring and reviews, and provide daily priority setting for Controls Technicians.
• Responsible for specifying DCSs, PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, motors, drives, sensors, vision sensors, and data collection and analysis software based on our companies controls standards criteria. Evaluates electrical equipment from multiple sources and recommends best value for use.
• Assesses, identifies, schematically designs, and makes complex program modifications in DCSs, PLC logic, HMI programs, and servo controller logic to improve individual equipment and overall system performance. Will appropriately delegate tasks and oversee others completing this work. Provides quality checks to ensure correct software development.
• Performs high-level troubleshooting and in-depth critical thinking and utilizes all internal & external resources to solve any electrical, mechanical, or process problem. Leads & assists others in troubleshooting machinery, equipment, components, and programs, including PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, and robotics.
• Coordinates machine data collection and archiving as well as assists in the analysis of this data. This requires interfacing production and lab equipment to the plant network as well as maintaining and improving the data historian system.
• Assists Production, Maintenance, and Engineers to meet daily priorities, coverage, and special projects. Ability to lead small capital projects.
• Leads Controls support during machine installations and upgrades. This includes interfacing auxiliary equipment, identifying and correcting errors in programming and wiring, and ensuring vendors and contractors are meeting our needs and expectations.
• Expected to keep abreast of all of the new control technologies, industry trends, health and safety regulations, and standards that affect current operations.
• Proactively identifies opportunities to increase production operation performance, then initiates and oversees projects through completion.
• Provides technical and operating training to production, warehouse, and other personnel as needed. Shares knowledge and techniques with team members and coordinates the training of new personnel.
• Assist in project planning and forecasting as part of the budgeting process.
• Provide training of control engineers and technicians with new control equipment or schedule outside training to enhance troubleshooting skills.
• Organize equipment documentation from OEMs, FQ-produced documents, and troubleshooting guides.
• Develop safety procedures for installed machineslockout/tagout for operations and maintenance personnel.

Education and experience requirements:

• Bachelors Degree in Electronics/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 1-year industrial controls experience. Advanced knowledge of electrical theory and principles of operation.
• Personal computer skills, including specific controls programming software and basic e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet applications, and project management software.
• Can create and modify schematic drawings using AutoCAD software
• Works closely with machine manufacturers and vendors to design and build the best equipment for the application.
• Communicates with the process engineers, product design group, and maintenance staff to understand what is required to make the machines operate as efficiently as possible while making the best product possible.
• Communicates with the production staff to identify problems and possible causes on the machinery.
• Works closely with the Information Technology department to integrate machine communication networks into the plant network and to maintain and enhance the data historian system.
• Communicates new equipment information to the control technicians.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Identifies machine problems and their potential causes by drawing on past experiences and utilizing critical thinking.
• Devises and performs tests to identify the root cause of problems.
• Analyzes data from equipment/program testing, event logs, operator/co-worker feedback, and historian data to identify trends and anomalies that indicate sources of inefficiency.
• Identifies possible causes of future downtime and determines appropriate actions to take to prevent them.
• Uses strong mathematical skills with numeric analysis software.
• Advanced knowledge of all PLC-based hardware and software.
• Must be knowledgeable on all current controls hardware and software.
• Has excellent PLC programming skills.
• Has excellent servo and HMI programming skills.
• Can interface between multiple controllers over various networking platforms.
• Knowledge of product specifications, quality specifications, goals, efficiency, scrap, and production.
• Leadership abilities.
• Directs OEMs, vendors, and technicians to accomplish goals in a timely manner
• Objectively evaluates the performance of control technicians.
• A wide degree of creativity is expected.
• Can identify numerous alternative solutions and choose between them
• Initiates new standards and practices that will improve the effectiveness of the machine controls and controls group.
• Makes quick and accurate electrical repairs and program changes during emergencies and stressful situations.