Automation Engineer II

Evonik•Birmingham, AL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The automation engineer is responsible for maintaining all aspects of the site automation network, troubleshooting the site control system and equipment PLCs, and assisting with the design and qualification of new automation systems. This automation engineer works as part of a larger site engineering team. This position receives technical guidance and assistance from more senior automation engineering positions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Automation Engineering, Industrial Automation, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
Minimum 3+ years of industrial automation experience supporting manufacturing processes, control systems, and automation equipment.
Strong experience with PLC, DCS, HMI, and SCADA systems, including Siemens PCS 7/S7 platforms, Allen-Bradley ControlLogix family, FactoryTalk View SE/ME, Wonderware, and GE iFIX.
Proficiency in automation programming and troubleshooting, including ladder logic, structured text, sequential function charts, function blocks, and IEC 61131 programming standards.
Experience integrating new equipment into existing control systems and migrating legacy automation platforms to modern, compliant solutions.
Ability to troubleshoot complex software, control system, and industrial networking issues using advanced diagnostic and root-cause analysis techniques.
Strong understanding of industrial networking and cybersecurity, including TCP/IP, Modbus, Ethernet/LAN/WAN infrastructure, Cisco networking hardware, Windows Domains, and Active Directory.
Experience supporting automation IT infrastructure, including Microsoft Windows Server environments, SQL Server, OSI PI, virtualization technologies (VMware/Hyper-V), virtual machines, and command-line interfaces.
Demonstrated project management skills, with the ability to develop scopes of work, manage vendors, estimate costs, and execute automation/electrical projects up to approximately $100K.
Knowledge of automation documentation and system management tools, including Visio, asset management strategies, and maintaining technical records and network architecture documentation.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot and resolve automation, software, and industrial network issues to minimize production downtime and improve system reliability.
Modify, optimize, and maintain automation control logic in collaboration with process engineers and manufacturing subject matter experts.
Design and execute automation improvement projects, including upgrades of legacy control systems and integration of production and utility systems into the site-wide control architecture.
Manage and coordinate electrical contractors and third-party automation vendors to ensure successful and safe project execution.
Develop and maintain automation documentation, including network architecture drawings, technical records, and system documentation.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, electrical safety standards, and site EHS requirements for both employees and contractors.
Support GMP, ISO, change control, and validation requirements by partnering with Quality Assurance and Validation teams during automation-related changes.
Develop project budgets, cost estimates, scopes of work, and vendor bid packages for automation and electrical projects.
Assist senior engineers with capital project planning, including project scope development, scheduling, resource planning, and cost management.
Drive long-term automation reliability and modernization initiatives by improving system robustness, reducing downtime, and advancing plant-wide control system integration.