Industrial Controls Engineer/Principal Industrial Controls Engineer

Northrop Grumman•Baltimore, MD

2d•$87,600 - $163,200

About The Position

Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems is seeking an Electrical Controls Engineer for Advanced Manufacturing. This position focuses on automation control and robotic systems used in electronics and mechanical manufacturing, assembly, and packaging. Researches, develops, designs, and tests electrical components, equipment, systems, and networks. Designs electrical equipment, facilities, components, products, and systems for commercial, industrial, and domestic purposes. Architect, implement, and harden the digital backbone that connects PLCs, HMIs, edge gateways, and data analytics across our global manufacturing footprint. The job blends classic control engineering with industrial networking, AI enabled optimization, edge computing, and DevSecOps to create resilient, observable, and secure automation ecosystems. You will be part of the Manufacturing Automation and Controls team that is pursuing sector Automation and Industry 4.0/Digital Thread efforts. This includes interfacing with the teams developing the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and our Plant Connectivity and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure. You will use your innovation and creativity to design automation solutions that will revolutionize manufacturing execution and have a sector level impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or other related STEM area and at least 2+ years of relevant professional experience- OR - a Master's degree in a STEM area and at least 1 year of relevant professional experience (for Industrial Controls Engineer)
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or other related STEM area and at least 5+ years of relevant professional experience- OR - a Master's degree in a STEM area and at least 3+ year of relevant professional experience (for Principal Industrial Controls Engineer)
Experience with programming PLC’s per IEC 61131-3 (Examples: ladder logic, function block diagram and structured text)
Experience with machine vision systems and barcode readers (Cognex/Keyence)
Experience with Fanuc robotics systems and Fanuc Vision applications
Experience with varying process sensors for environment, motion, measurement and presence (Banner, Sick, Allen-Bradley, Keyence, Omron)
Experience with programming and hardware architecture of Siemens Controls, HMI environments.
Experience with building and implementing Manufacturing Dashboards (data digestion) to improve production performance and efficiency
Experience with RIA TR R15.406-2014 and OSHA equipment safety standards
Experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications
Experience with Programming: Python 3.x (pandas, NumPy, async), C++ (14/17), JavaScript/Node for edge services, Bash/PowerShell, MATLAB/Simulink for algorithm prototyping
Electrical Design: AutoCAD electrical, Panel Wiring, IO
Fluency in MS Office software applications
Ability to obtain and maintain a US Secret Security Clearance
US Citizenship is required

Nice To Haves

Experience with RIA TR R15.406-2014 and OSHA equipment safety standards
Experience with electronic electrostatic discharge (ESD) and contamination damage
Experience with networking supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), controllers and servers via Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus or equivalent Fieldbus protocols
Experience with programming and hardware architecture of networking processes such as Manufacturing Service Bus Integration (Kepware, PAC), MES integration, IIoT 4.0 communications (CFX) and/or “Edge Computing”
Experience with Ignition SCADA experience
Experience with RF TEST systems automation using MATLAB
Cybersecurity: IEC 62443, NIST 80053, TLS/PKI, VPN/IPSec, firewalls, IDS/IPS, firmware integrity checking, security audit tools.
Data & SCADA: Historian (OSIsoft PI, Wonderware Historian), realtime analytics, OPCUA server/client development.
Electronic component manufacturing
Experience with materials removal and dispense automation systems

Responsibilities

Lead troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance activities on PLC, material handling equipment, and robotics
Troubleshooting & editing Siemens Step 7 (Siemens PLC’s), OMRON, Beckhoff, and Allen Bradley controllers and (Tag) architecture
Programming Improvements in FANUC Robotics hardware/software systems
Execute modernizations, extensions, and modifications according to specifications and/or sketches of electrical drawings. If necessary, adjust PLC programming and utilize PLC to troubleshoot issues (IEC 61131-3)
Reviews installation layouts, mechanical prints and electrical schematic drawings.
Design of control/electrical panel layouts with tight integrations to custom equipment, conveyors and robotics.
Performs in-house testing on control components and systems. Performs equipment tests at vendor site as needed.
Assists with panel wiring and mechanical assembly to meet project schedules
Provides manager and lead project engineer with timely status reports of projects.
Identify and analyze errors and malfunctions as they relate to the items below: Intermittent/inconsistent electrical and mechanical failures on production equipment, PLC’s, 24v control circuits, 480v 3phase systems, 4-20ma circuits, VFD’s, PC controllers, and fieldbus technology/control technology
Developing and evaluating vendor equipment statement of work, quotes, design, installation, and facility testing to meet Mission Systems Automation and Enterprise Software Platform (PLM/ERP/MES/Mfg. Bus) requirements
Review of machine vision systems (Equip. And Software) in multiple configurations in production environments for higher volume products to identify and implement automation opportunities
Factory Support
Maintain equipment-monitoring systems for machine uptime, efficiency, quality, process stability and capability.
Recommend and implement controls, sensors, electromechanical and/or automation improvements for manufacturing & Machine Vision automation systems.
Development, validation, and maintenance of automation and controls systems equipment, programming, and data transfer systems
Creating new training materials and teaching new personnel on training materials
Solving manufacturing problems related to sensors, robots, motion, vision, equipment, data in a timely manner
Working with vendors, managing electrical Controls projects, and ensuring systems meet safety standards and regulations
Supporting/Cross Training factory technicians and maintenance personnel with the troubleshooting and repair of process equipment.