Regional Automation And Controls Engineer

Job Description

Purpose

The Automation and Controls Engineer position serves as a pivotal role within our organization, reporting directly to the Director of Operations and Regional Reliability Manager. This role collaborates closely with Plant Managers and Site Maintenance Departments, offering crucial support across multiple sites. The Automation and Controls Engineer focuses on ensuring the safe and efficient operation of our manufacturing processes through the installation, maintenance, and enhancement of machine control systems.

Scope and Scale of Responsibilities:

Reporting directly into the Director of Operations and Regional Reliability Manager and supporting multiple sites, the Automation and Controls Engineer supports CM Biomass Operations and Maintenance in the areas of project management, development of budgets and execution of the manufacturing policy and plan, with a focus on health, safety, and the environment. Responsible for the installation, upgrades and maintenance of machine controls systems, and upgrades to our current plant machines & process, line modifications, and additions. Troubleshooting and providing solutions for production-related systems. Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure efficient operations.

Key Accountabilities: Support our safe working environment. Ensure all health and safety programs and procedures are followed and adhered by. Perform safety compliance audits as required, take corrective action on unsafe practices, while reinforcing positive behaviors. Adhere to workplace safety policies, regulations, and compliances. Provide technical support to assess abnormal process control operations and functions and develop guidelines to mitigate and manage appropriately. Effectively diagnose and repair malfunctioning systems and components including instrumentation, PLCs, VFDs, etc. 2 of 3 Participate in integration planning for hardware and software with 3rd party control systems. Maintain process sensors maintenance; complete sensor verification, analyze issue and recommend solutions. Support electrical and process improvements at our operations with our PLC system (Allen Bradley Controllogix). Enhance, correct, or improve performance of the HMI interfaces (i.e., Wonderware). Project management for all plant projects, and the implementation of new technologies for process control and equipment monitoring. Assist with the installation and commissioning of equipment during various capital project initiatives. Properly link PLCs to Process Historian, Computerized Maintenance Management systems, and Environmental control software. Read and interpret equipment drawings, P&IDs, and schematics, as well as make corrections and changes to drawings as needed. Plan and participate in meetings with contractors, consultants, plant personnel, and management. Install, test, maintain and troubleshoot wiring, fixtures, control devices and equipment. Proficiency use of electrical test equipment such as but not limited to digital multimeters, ammeters, meggers, instrument loop calibrators, oscilloscopes, process controllers, etc. Maintain a clean and environmentally safe work area. Maintain logs, and record labor, materials and equipment used. Effectively Communicate to all Team Members and Management any equipment deficiencies. Participate in Breakdown Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Focused Improvement, and 5S projects. Ensure workers adhere to Local, State and Federal Codes and Regulations. Perform other duties as required and serve as a back-up resource as needed. Oversee contractor operations and ensure check-ins with leads. Train Plant Operators and Maintenance team on the operation of new software, updates, or enhancements.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

High school diploma or equivalent education; trade school or college preferred.

Applied Science (BAS) Degree in Electronics Technology and or Industrial Electronics and Electrical Maintenance Certificate preferred.

Minimum 5 years relevant work experience as a Automation Engineer / Control Systems Programmer required.

Three years experience in manufacturing setting. Ability to work Independently and utilize critical problem solving and decision-making skills to generate and implement solutions throughout the process.

Must maintain Compliance within all LOTO, Confined Space, Hot Work, Working at Heights Policies.

OSHA 10 Training and Experience.

Ability to work extended hours to includes nights, weekends, and holidays.

Ability to work at heights more than 80 feet, use man lifts, and work in confined spaces.

Ability to work outdoors, rotating shifts, and lift 50 pounds required.

Ability to utilize skills to Improve equipment Optimization and Reliability.

Meticulous Attention to detail; able to follow instruction both written and verbal.

Special Features:

Travel required to different sites across Southeast USA and Houston TX Head office.

Availability for on-call duty during emergencies.

Flexibility for night or weekend work during planned outages or projects.

Indoors and outdoors work environment.

Hot, cold, and extreme weather conditions.

Must be able to perform the physical requirements of the position, lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, turning, climbing stairs and ladders.

Drug-free work environment - must be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Must be able to pass criminal background check. 3 of 3 Measures of Success:

Safety Compliance: Ensuring adherence to health and safety procedures, with zero safety incidents or violations.

System Reliability: Demonstrating effective diagnosis and repair of malfunctioning systems, resulting in minimal downtime and maximum operational efficiency.

Project Management: Successfully managing plant projects and implementing new technologies within budget and on schedule.

Process Improvement: Contributing to the enhancement, correction, or improvement of the HMI interfaces and control systems, leading to increased process optimization and reliability

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Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Building and maintaining strong working relationships across multidisciplinary teams, facilitating smooth coordination and communication.

Training Effectiveness: Successfully training plant operators and maintenance teams on the operation of new software, updates, or enhancements, leading to improved operational understanding and efficiency. Compliance and Regulations: Ensuring adherence to local, state, and federal codes and regulations, with no compliance issues or regulatory penalties.

Contractor Oversight: Effectively overseeing contractor operations and ensuring compliance with project requirements and timelines.

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Utilizing critical problem-solving and decision-making skills to address process control abnormalities and implement effective solutions.

Continuous Improvement: Actively participating in breakdown analysis, root cause analysis, focused improvement, and 5S projects, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. Our Values Align If You Make safety a top priority, actively contributing to creating a safe work environment for yourself and your colleagues.

Prioritize sustainability in your work, striving to contribute to green energy solutions and meet sustainability requirements.

Demonstrate a client-centric approach by focusing on understanding and meeting the diverse needs of our valued internal and external customers.

Embrace collaborative teamwork, leveraging the expertise of our global team to deliver innovative solutions.

Uphold high standards of excellence, continuously striving for improvement and delivering exceptional results.

Take ownership and accountability for your actions and responsibilities, ensuring the integrity and reliability of our operations.

Full-time