Associate Controls Engineer

Ozinga Bros, Inc.•Mokena, IL

About The Position

The Associate Controls Engineer designs, programs, builds, installs, and maintains plant automated systems under the guidance of the Automation Controls Engineer. The role handles electrical controls, troubleshooting, and new installations, and serves as a technical resource to plant personnel and maintenance by providing control-system troubleshooting guidance, updating schematics, and documenting automation changes. The position supports plant systems and operations through automation design, commissioning, electrical preventive maintenance, periodic testing, inventory monitoring, and written documentation. It may also provide support for critical plant downtime remotely through VPN diagnostics, escalating to onsite troubleshooting when required, including during or outside regularly scheduled hours. The role requires local travel and may involve short-duration, long-distance travel. Work takes place in a fast-paced environment and can include exposure to moving mechanical parts, vehicles, heavy construction equipment, chemicals, outdoor weather, and high noise levels.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 5 years of experience in an industrial setting with 110V/208V and 480V.
Strong proficiency in PLC ladder logic, function blocks, and HMI design, as well as installation and maintenance practices.
Ability to read and interpret manuals, parts catalogs, and electrical/control schematics.
Practical knowledge of NFPA-70 (NEC), NFPA 70E (arc flash and electrical safety), and safety circuit design principles.
Prioritize safety and help create a safe work environment.
Ability to work reasonable overtime and occasional off-hours as requested by management.
Self-starter with a sense of urgency.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrate and uphold Ozinga’s values.

Nice To Haves

Specialized education or training.
PLC training and experience through college or vocational education.
Experience with Automation Direct Productivity Suite, C-More EA9/CM5, and WEG Programming Suite.
Experience with Kepware (KEPServerX) for OPC communication, Modbus TCP/RTU and Ethernet-compatible devices, or Siemens TIA Portal.
Experience with other industrial automation platforms, such as Rockwell Automation/Allen Bradley Studio 5000/RSLogix 5000, Omron CX-One/Sysmac, or Mitsubishi.

Responsibilities

Program and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, and industrial PCs for industrial automation applications.
Design, build, test, install, and maintain control boxes.
Design electrical control solutions for custom requirements using the latest version of AutoCAD.
Create functional descriptions, flow charts, and control narratives for automation systems and adaptations.
Analyze plant systems and operations to ensure proper functionality.
Perform electrical preventive maintenance and troubleshooting when applicable.
Plan, direct, and record periodic electrical testing, and recommend modification or replacement of equipment that fails to meet operating standards.
Install, repair, terminate, and label control wiring.
Set up IP networks.
Program VFDs and soft starters.
Commission systems.
Monitor inventory part levels to ensure timely product availability.
Use electrical instrumentation, process controls, relay logic, and control circuits to wire, configure, and maintain motor control circuits, including soft starts and variable frequency drives.
Provide plant maintenance personnel with control-system troubleshooting guidance, update schematics, and document automation changes.
Support critical plant downtime issues, primarily through remote VPN access for PLC and HMI diagnostics, and escalate to onsite troubleshooting when required, including outside regularly scheduled hours.
Create or file written reports, including schematics for new or modified systems and requested work estimates.
Perform additional duties as needed to meet business needs.