Automation and Controls Engineer

Gulftech Group•Winter Haven, FL

4d•$0 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Automation & Controls Engineer creates, designs, and manages changes to machine control and safety systems for food-processing equipment operating in a washdown environment. The work includes PLC and PCB hardware and software, motor and pneumatic controls, vision systems, cabling, interlock devices, wiring, and networking components. The role also creates and maintains schematics and compiled code. The engineer designs and supports automation processes for food production machinery, develops improvements and innovations, works with mechanical engineering on new products, and provides automation and process-control consultation to company personnel and customers. The role supports equipment installation, commissioning, customer issues, training, design reviews, and related budgeting and supply-chain activities. Domestic and international travel of up to 15% may be required. This is a full-time, exempt position in the Engineering department, based in Winter Haven, Florida, reporting to the Engineering Manager. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexibility required to accommodate changing business needs. The position has no direct reports.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five or more years programming PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, and SQL.
Willingness to travel up to 15%.
Detail-oriented, analytical, computer literate, and able to demonstrate leadership skills.
Knowledge and understanding of construction, manufacturing, and installation practices and techniques.
Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, technical material, drawings, and blueprints.
Ability to write correspondence and technical instructions.
Ability to present information effectively in one-on-one and small-group situations to customers, vendors, and company employees.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to detailed written and oral instructions.
Ability to address problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations.
Valid driver’s license.
Must have or be able to obtain a passport for international travel.
Scheduling flexibility to accommodate changing business needs.

Nice To Haves

Food-processing experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design and assist with designing automation processes for high-yield, high-quality food production using company-developed machinery.
Develop concepts to improve machinery and processes.
Communicate with customers and company staff about automation issues involving product yield, quality, throughput, safety systems, information systems, machinery, and process designs.
Develop training plans for Automation & Controls Engineer technology released for Production.
Provide remote support for customer issues upon request from the A&C Manager.
Identify and propose innovations for Sales and Management teams, and help design and implement them.
Work with the mechanical engineering team on new product development.
Assist with PLC and HMI program standardization.
Assist with start-ups of newly installed equipment.
Review automation design packages.
Assist the Engineering Manager with budgeting department expenses and hours for A&C New Product Development activities.
Assist Supply Chain with electrical component issues.
Suggest and implement machine improvements.
Work with the A&C Manager on A&C-related matters.
Follow safety procedures, safeguard others, and refuse unsafe tasks when necessary.
Provide domestic and international company directors with consultation on process controls and other automation and control issues.
Travel domestically and internationally for service calls to existing and potential customers.
Provide customers with consultation on automation and control issues.
Perform or assist with process-control evaluations at customer sites.
Assist in designing systems that collect and provide machinery and systems process data files for analysis.
Initiate and assist with commissioning new controls installations at customer sites.
Perform other duties and assist with special projects as assigned.