Industrial Automation Engineer (Controls & Electrical Systems)

Qualdoc•Petersburg, VA

11h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Industrial Automation Engineer to support control systems, electrical infrastructure, and process optimization in a manufacturing environment. This role blends hands-on troubleshooting with engineering design and improvement efforts, focusing on increasing equipment reliability and production performance. You’ll partner with operations and maintenance teams to identify issues, implement system enhancements, and support ongoing automation initiatives across the facility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline
At least 5 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting with PLC programming
Strong understanding of motors, drives, and AC/DC control systems
Experience with ladder logic programming and troubleshooting
Ability to manage automation and electrical projects from concept through implementation
Comfortable working in both office and production floor environments
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities
Effective communication skills when working with operations, maintenance, and leadership teams
Experience with Siemens (S7 / TIA Portal)
Experience with Allen-Bradley
Experience with GE / RX3i
Experience with Toshiba NV
Experience with Ignition
Experience with Cimplicity
Experience with WinCC
Experience with Rockwell platforms
Experience with Profibus / Profinet
Experience with Industrial communication protocols
Experience with Data acquisition systems

Nice To Haves

IBA or PDA experience preferred

Responsibilities

Configure, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC-controlled systems within production operations
Design and enhance HMI interfaces to improve operator interaction and efficiency
Diagnose and resolve issues involving automation systems, communication networks, and instrumentation
Support and lead projects aimed at improving system uptime, performance, and throughput
Evaluate equipment data to identify trends and recommend process improvements
Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions
Assist in planning maintenance shutdowns, upgrades, and system modifications
Improve alarm management, reporting capabilities, and control system functionality
Work cross-functionally to convert operational needs into technical automation solutions
Provide support for automation systems used in heavy industrial or rolling processes
Maintain system backups and ensure integrity of control system software
Lead improvements in instrumentation performance and system responsiveness
Identify and implement upgrades to existing equipment and control systems
Contribute to long-term planning and continuous improvement initiatives