Assistant Chief Manager - Automation (Cold Rolling Mill Automation)

John Cockerill; Mumbai; On-site; INR 5,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

John Cockerill seeks an experienced Assistant Chief Manager - Automation for Cold Rolling Mill Automation in Mumbai. The role requires hands-on expertise in PLC/HMI software, mill technology, and advanced process control, leading engineering and commissioning teams across projects.

The candidate will drive system design, integration, and site handover, coordinating with customers and vendors to ensure on-schedule delivery and functional performance.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of industrial automation experience, preferably in cold rolling mills.
• Proven expertise in Siemens PLC programming and HMI engineering.
• Strong leadership in project delivery, commissioning, and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop automation philosophies, specifications, architectures, IO lists, interlock matrices, and control narratives.
• Select PLC hardware, configure I/O, network, and drive integration.
• Coordinate with electrical, instrumentation, process, and drive teams.
• Lead mill technology and process control, including tension control and AGC/SPM automation.
• Plan and execute FAT/SAT, commissioning, and site handover.
• Manage client and vendor communications and maintain project schedules.

Skills

Engineering design

PLC/HMI development

Mill technology

Advanced process control

System integration

Site commissioning

Tools

Siemens S7-300/400/1500

TIA Portal

STEP 7

WinCC

PROFINET

PROFIBUS

EtherNet/IP

OPC UA

Job description

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Assistant Chief Manager - Automation (Cold Rolling Mill Automation)

John Cockerill, enablers of opportunities

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to low carbon energies, enabling sustainable industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, enhancing security and installing essential infrastructures.

Its offer to businesses, governments and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defence, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures. With over 6,000 employees, John Cockerill achieved a turnover of € 1,209 billion in 2023 in 29 countries, on 5 continents.

1. Job Profile

Looking for an experienced Cold Rolling Mill Automation Engineer with strong hands‑on
expertise in engineering design, PLC/HMI software development, mill technology,
advanced process control, system integration, and site commissioning. The candidate
must independently manage engineering activities, lead commissioning teams,
coordinate with customers and vendors, and ensure successful project execution and
site handover.

2. Key Responsibilities

• A. Engineering & System Design
  • Develop automation philosophies, functional specifications, system architecture, I/O lists, interlock matrices, and control narratives.
  • Handle PLC hardware selection, CPU sizing, distributed I/O configuration, network architecture, and drive-system integration.
  • Coordinate with electrical, instrumentation, process, drive, and hardware engineering teams.
• B. Mill Technology & Process Control
  • Strong knowledge of cold rolling mill technology, tension control, speed synchronization, and drive coordination.
  • Hands‑on expertise in Roll Gap Control (RGC), Automatic Gauge Control (AGC), and Skin‑Pass Mill (SPM) automation.
  • Develop and optimize feedback, feedforward, mass‑flow, rolling‑force, pressure, and elongation control loops.
  • Understand hydraulic control, oil‑film/Moog‑related compensation, and roll eccentricity compensation.
• C. PLC Software & HMI Engineering
  • Expert in Siemens S7-300/S7-400/S7-1500, TIA Portal, STEP 7, and WinCC.
  • Proficiency in LAD, SCL, STL/AWL for legacy systems, FBD/CFC, and GRAPH.
  • Develop PLC logic, automatic sequences, interlocks, diagnostics, and fault‑recovery functions.
  • Configure HMI faceplates, popups, alarms, trends, data archives, and reports.
  • Knowledge of safety PLCs, ABB, and Rockwell Automation platforms is desirable.
• D. System Integration & Level 2 Automation
  • Integrate gauge measurement systems, Automatic Flatness Control (AFC), Process Data Acquisition (PDA), drives, and third‑party equipment.
  • Hands‑on experience with PROFINET, PROFIBUS, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, Modbus TCP, and applicable industrial protocols.
  • Develop and troubleshoot Level 1/Level 2 interfaces, setpoint transfer, process data exchange, and communication handshakes.
• E. Commissioning & Site Leadership
  • Execute FAT, SAT, cold commissioning, dynamic testing, and production commissioning.
  • Commission and optimize AGC, RGC, tension control, SPM, drive coordination, and automatic sequences.
  • Independently lead site commissioning teams and resolve complex automation, drive, instrumentation, and process‑control issues.
  • Coordinate with customers, vendors, and international engineering teams to maintain project schedules and customer satisfaction.
  • Conduct site progress meetings, maintain Minutes of Meeting (MoM), and ensure timely closure of punch points.
  • Take ownership of customer acceptance, final sign‑o, documentation, and successful site handover.

3. Essential Requirements

• 10–15+ years of relevant industrial automation and engineering experience, preferably in cold rolling mills.
• Strong expertise in Siemens PLC programming, TIA Portal, STEP 7, WinCC, AGC, RGC, tension control, and SPM automation.
• Proven experience in engineering design, system integration, software development, and independent site commissioning.
• Strong technical leadership, troubleshooting, customer coordination, and project execution capabilities.
• C/C++ knowledge is desirable; ABB and Rockwell Automation experience is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for project execution.

4. Professional Requirements

• Strong ownership, accountability, and results‑oriented approach.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills with customers, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strict adherence to engineering quality, project schedules, confidentiality, and intellectual property protection.
• Willingness to enter into a mutually agreed 3–5-year employment commitment, subject to applicable laws and contractual terms.

Ideal Candidate:

An end‑to‑end Cold Rolling Mill Automation Specialist capable of independently handling engineering design, PLC software development, advanced process control, multi‑platform integration, commissioning team leadership, customer satisfaction, and successful project closure.

John Cockerill offers you career and development opportunities within its various sectors in a friendly working environment.
Do you want to work for an innovative company that will allow you to take up technical challenges on a daily basis?