Associate Automation Engineer

Hoffman & Hoffman Inc • Goldsboro, NC

3d

About The Position

An Associate Automation Engineer is an entry-level engineering professional responsible for supporting the development, design, and implementation of industrial control systems for building automation projects. This role combines control system design, HMI/SCADA development, PLC/DDC programming, and field commissioning to ensure the successful delivery of projects under the guidance of senior engineers. An Associate Automation Engineer focuses on learning company standards, control system architecture, and software integration while contributing to project execution and system optimization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or Associate degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Trade school certificates or equivalent technical training combined with relevant experience may also be considered.
• 0–3+ years of experience in industrial automation, instrumentation and controls, PLC/DDC programming, or a related industrial engineering field.
• Basic understanding of HVAC and building automation systems (BAS).
• Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, control system documentation, and network architecture drawings.
• Basic experience with HMI and SCADA platforms (e.g., Rockwell, Ignition, Wonderware) and the ability to instantiate standard graphics, alarms, and trends.
• Basic understanding of PLC platforms (e.g. Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and at least one industrial automation programming language, such as Ladder Logic.
• Basic understanding of industrial protocols (Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet/IP) and OT network design.
• Familiarity with troubleshooting techniques and tools such as simulators and multimeters for software testing and point-to-point device verification.
• A strong eagerness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving engineering standards.
• A solution-oriented mindset with the ability to perform strategic debugging and know when to escalate issues.
• High commitment to accuracy in technical drawings, naming conventions, and project documentation.
• Ability to provide concise status updates and define technical challenges to project leads and team members.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with PLC/DDC and HMI configuration, industrial networking, and/or HVAC systems is preferred.
• Familiarity with construction site environments and field devices (instrumentation, valves, drives) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Control System Design: Perform product selection for common automation systems and applications and support generation of accurate control system drawings.
• HMI/SCADA Configuration: Instantiate graphics and configure HMI/SCADA screens in alignment with company standards.
• PLC/DDC Programming: Support basic PLC and DDC programming tasks such as tag configuration and control logic using standard templates, reusable code libraries, or custom code.
• Testing and Commissioning: Assist with testing, device verification, and troubleshooting during bench testing, Factory Acceptance Testing, and site startup activities. Travel may be required. Expect up to 30% travel, including regular overnight stays for non-local client sites and up to 100% travel to local client sites.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate project documentation, including IO lists, Sequence of Operations, Functional Specifications, test protocols, and redline markups.
• Safety & Compliance: Follow all office and site safety procedures and participate in mandatory safety training (e.g., OSHA-10).
• Quality Control: Ensure all document and code deliverables meet established quality standards for right-first-time accuracy and on-time delivery.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree