Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer - Charlotte, NC

(on-site contractor)

For more than 150 years, our client has combined its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics, along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities, to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. With five major business sectors: display technologies, environmental technologies, life sciences, optical communications, and specialty materials, they are also among the Forbes 500 largest companies in the US.

This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. Our client will require proof of status prior to employment.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced senior controls engineer to support the design, installation, start-up, and debugging of advanced manufacturing equipment in a high-volume production environment. This role will require a mix of electrical design, hardware design and programming capabilities to design Rockwell based process and automated equipment. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned controls professional who enjoys working directly with equipment, solving technical challenges, and supporting complex installation and start-up activities.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will serve as an electrical controls resource for manufacturing process improvement and capital expansion projects. You will lead the electrical and controls scope of assigned projects.  Project focus will be implementation of PLC based automation for manufacturing plants and processes.  You will work closely with a multi-disciplinary team that includes mechanical, electrical, controls, facilities, IT, and operations professionals to help ensure systems are installed, commissioned, and running safely and effectively. 

Required Qualifications

• Software/Controls programming experience with PLC's, HMI's (hardware/software), SCADA primarily Rockwell
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems primarily FT View, Optix, Ignition
• Understanding of PID control implementation
• Capability to design, develop and deliver fully integrated machine and motion control, automation, and process machine systems to manufacturing
• Able to effectively leverage external machine builders and system integrators to design, develop, and deploy integrated manufacturing systems to global manufacturing facilities
• Understanding of electrical panel layout, schematic design, ladder logic programming, and system testing and troubleshooting.  AutoCAD and/or AutoCAD Electrical skills
• Familiarity of logic-based programming. PLC and IEC base programming structure including ladder logic, function blocks, structured text, and sequential flowchart desirable.
• Familiar with Machine Safety Design principles per ISO 13849 -1&2
• Individuals must be capable of executing project assignments, in a cross-functional team based environment
• Experience designing and implementing industrial communication technologies (Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT)

Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or other related technical field)

Experience: 7+ years of relevant controls engineering experience

Key Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering scope for automation and capital projects from concept development through design, build, installation, startup, and commissioning.
• Design, develop, and deploy integrated automation and machine control systems using PLC, HMI, SCADA, and related controls technologies.
• Define control architectures, functional specifications, and integration requirements that support manufacturing and process objectives.
• Provide technical direction for controls work executed by contractors, system integrators, machine builders, and internal project team members.
• Review and approve controls deliverables such as electrical schematics, panel layouts, PLC and HMI programs, network architecture, and integration documentation.
• Troubleshoot complex controls, programming, networking, and system integration issues during project execution and startup.
• Support commissioning, startup, training, and technology transfer as systems are handed off to plant teams.

Travel Requirements

• Based in Charlotte - Travel to support projects in Hickory, Wilmington NC facilities as needed.
• Occasional travel to supplier or vendor locations may be required for equipment check-out prior to shipment

Work Schedule

• Typical schedule is 40 hours per week
• Schedule flexibility is required and may include weekends, holidays, or extended days during installation and start-up activities