Controls Engineer

Seaman Corporation • Bristol, TN

39d

About The Position

The Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, programming, and maintaining industrial automation systems that drive safety, efficiency, and product quality across manufacturing operations. This role combines hands-on troubleshooting with strategic project execution, supporting both legacy and modern control platforms (Siemens, Rockwell, etc.). The ideal candidate brings a proactive mindset, strong technical expertise, and a passion for continuous improvement—playing a key role in reducing downtime, optimizing processes, and enabling smart manufacturing initiatives.

Requirements

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related field
• 3+ years in industrial controls or automation
• Siemens & Rockwell PLC/HMI/Drive programming
• Knowledge of machine safety standards and best practices (NFPA 70E/79, IEC/ISO)
• Strong collaboration with maintenance and production teams
• Willingness to travel occasionally (~10–20%) to support remote sites

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to multi-platform integration
• Familiarity with calendering, polymer or web-handling processes
• Experience training technicians or operators on control systems

Responsibilities

• Ensure control systems meet plant safety policies and industry standards. Maintain safety circuits and participate in safety reviews, keeping audit trails of program changes and ensuring proper authorization for modifications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional and multi-location teams to drive automation strategies that align with plant-wide goals for efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation. Champion innovative control solutions that support future scalability.
• Support maintenance teams as the on-site expert for diagnosing and resolving complex automation issues, including sensors, I/O modules, drives, and control networks. Collaborate closely with maintenance personnel during equipment downtime to help identify and correct control system failures that extend beyond routine troubleshooting.
• Implement regular backups of PLC programs, HMI configurations, and drive settings, maintaining a well-organized archive. Develop and test recovery plans to restore control systems quickly in case of hardware failure or software corruption.
• Identify opportunities to enhance throughput, reduce scrap, and improve safety through control logic changes.
• Train technicians and production operators on HMI features, and control & safety sequences.

Benefits

• Company performance bonus in addition to base salary
• Professional development opportunities including tuition reimbursement, course training, and networking
• A competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off (PTO), volunteer time off (VTO), and paid holidays
• Fun and engaging activities including department outings, holiday parties, and our annual company-wide dinner

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees