Controls Engineer

Smiths Group•Avery Creek, NC

23d

About The Position

The Controls Engineer designs, develops, programs, commissions, and supports industrial control systems and control panels used in manufacturing, process, and automation environments. The role leads implementation of PLC, HMI, SCADA, VFD, and industrial networking solutions using platforms including Siemens, Emerson, ABB, and Allen-Bradley. The engineer works with customers and sales, engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver reliable, safe, and compliant automation solutions. The position encompasses control panel design, PLC and HMI programming, industrial networking and integration, testing, and commissioning. It includes creating electrical documentation, selecting system components, implementing process control strategies, and supporting systems during installation and production startup. The role also promotes safety, continuous improvement, and LEAN problem-solving practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline; an equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience may be considered.
At least 3 years of experience in industrial automation or controls engineering.
Hands-on programming and troubleshooting experience with multiple PLC platforms.
HMI/SCADA development experience.
CAD experience, such as AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.
Experience troubleshooting electrical and automation systems.
Knowledge of electrical safety and lockout/tagout procedures.

Nice To Haves

UL 508A control panel design experience.

Responsibilities

Design industrial control panels in accordance with UL 508A, UL698A, NEC, and applicable customer standards.
Create and maintain panel layouts, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and bills of materials using Solidworks, Draftsight, EPLAN, ERP, or similar software.
Specify and select PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, motor starters, safety relays, I/O devices, and industrial networking equipment.
Develop, modify, and troubleshoot PLC programs using Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Emerson, and ABB platforms.
Develop HMI and SCADA applications using Siemens WinCC, Rockwell FactoryTalk View, Emerson operator interface solutions, and ABB visualization platforms.
Implement process control strategies, including PID loops, sequencing, interlocks, alarming, and safety functions.
Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, including Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP/IP, Modbus RTU, Profibus, and OPC UA.
Integrate PLCs with SCADA systems, MES systems, and third-party automation equipment.
Perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
Lead startup and commissioning activities at customer facilities.
Troubleshoot electrical and automation systems during installation and production startup.
Validate system performance against customer specifications and design requirements.
Develop test procedures and commissioning documentation.
Promote safety, continuous improvement, and LEAN problem-solving practices.