Controls and Automation Engineer

Shearer's Foods•Burlington, IA

About The Position

The Controls and Automation Engineer is responsible for maintaining controls and automation equipment, including troubleshooting, performing program backups, and system upgrades. The role works directly with cross-functional teams in safety, quality, engineering, and production, and provides technical guidance to maintenance and other technical team members to build controls capabilities across the company’s network. The engineer supports safe, food-safe operations in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), maintains machine electrical prints and program backups, and ensures program changes meet safety and quality standards. The position also contributes to process improvements, equipment selection, controls standards, training, root-cause analysis, and safety practices.

Requirements

Associate degree or higher in a technical field, including Electrical Engineering.
Five years of industrial automation engineering experience.
Familiarity with computer programs such as AutoCAD and Microsoft Office.
Familiarity with Rockwell PLC software and ability to design, write, and troubleshoot programs, including RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, Studio 5000, Connected Components Workbench (CCW), and FactoryTalk View Studio.
Familiarity with Rockwell hardware and ability to design, write, and troubleshoot systems, including SLC 500, MicroLogix, CompactLogix, ControlLogix, PanelView, and PowerFlex.
Familiarity with high-speed manufacturing and packaging processes, operations, and associated machinery.
Ability to read and interpret electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical prints.
ABB and Fanuc robot programming (and other robots).

Nice To Haves

Food or beverage manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

Maintain controls and automation equipment, including troubleshooting, program backups, and system upgrades.
Work with safety, quality, engineering, and production teams.
Provide technical guidance to maintenance and other technical team members to develop controls capabilities across the network.
Perform advanced troubleshooting using PLC and HMI code to diagnose downtime issues.
Own regular program backups and ensure program changes comply with safety and quality standards.
Ensure machines have up-to-date electrical prints.
Develop and train maintenance personnel on control systems and functions.
Improve cycle times, reduce scrap, and upgrade components for cost or performance improvements; communicate changes to the wider controls team and Proactive Maintenance central function.
Recommend new equipment to the engineering team to avoid future obsolescence and design issues.
Assist the corporate controls team in creating electrical and controls standards and implementing them at each facility.
Maintain knowledge of advances in parts, equipment, and processes relevant to equipment selection.
Participate actively in the Safety Committee.
Assist in developing baseline safe-work expectations and practices; identify and correct unsafe conditions and report unsafe actions.
Participate in root-cause analyses (RCAs).
Modify existing PLC and HMI programs to improve processes.
Perform duties in a food-safe manner in accordance with GMPs.