Associate Automation Engineer

Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc.; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc. seeks an Associate Automation Engineer to support development, design, and implementation of BAS control systems for building projects. You will assist with PLC/DDC programming, HMI/SCADA setup, and field commissioning under senior engineers across project phases.

You will learn company standards and control architectures while contributing to system integration, testing, and documentation with a focus on quality and safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Chemical or related technical field, or equivalent.
• 0–3+ years in industrial automation, instrumentation and controls or related field; HVAC/ BAS familiarity preferred.
• Familiar with PLC/DDC programming, HMI configuration, and field devices; travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Control System Design: support selection and generation of control drawings.
• HMI/SCADA: configure screens and graphics per company standards.
• PLC/DDC: assist with programming tasks using standard templates.
• Testing & Commissioning: support bench, FAT, and site startup activities; travel up to 30% with overnight stays.
• Documentation: maintain IO lists, sequences, specs, test protocols, redlines.
• Safety & Compliance: follow safety procedures and training; ensure quality standards.

Skills

HVAC BAS knowledge

P&ID reading

HMI/SCADA basics

PLC programming

Networking protocols

Testing & commissioning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics

Trade/Associate degree in related field

Tools

Rockwell Automation

Ignition

Wonderware

Allen‑Bradley

Siemens

Job description

Job Description

An Associate Automation Engineer is an entry-level engineering professional responsible for supporting the development, design, and implementation of industrial control systems for building automation projects. This role combines control system design, HMI/SCADA development, PLC/DDC programming, and field commissioning to ensure the successful delivery of projects under the guidance of senior engineers. An Associate Automation Engineer focuses on learning company standards, control system architecture, and software integration while contributing to project execution and system optimization.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or Associate degree in any of the following fields: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Trade school certificates or equivalent technical training combined with relevant experience may also be considered.

Experience

• 0–3+ years of experience in industrial automation, instrumentation and controls, PLC/DDC programming, or a related industrial engineering field.
• Familiarity with PLC/DDC and HMI configuration, industrial networking, and/or HVAC systems is preferred.
• Familiarity with construction site environments and field devices (instrumentation, valves, drives) is preferred.

Skills

Technical Skills

• Systems Knowledge: Basic understanding of HVAC and building automation systems (BAS).
• Control System Design: Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, control system documentation, and network architecture drawings.
• HMI/SCADA: Basic experience with HMI and SCADA platforms (e.g., Rockwell, Ignition, Wonderware) and the ability to instantiate standard graphics, alarms, and trends.
• PLC/DDC: Basic understanding of PLC platforms (e.g. Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and at least one industrial automation programming language, such as Ladder Logic.
• Networking & Infrastructure: Basic understanding of industrial protocols (Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet/IP) and OT network design.
• Testing: Familiarity with troubleshooting techniques and tools such as simulators and multimeters for software testing and point-to-point device verification.

Soft Skills

• Learning Mindset: A strong eagerness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving engineering standards.
• Problem-Solving: A solution-oriented mindset with the ability to perform strategic debugging and know when to escape issues.
• Attention to Detail: High commitment to accuracy in technical drawings, naming conventions, and project documentation.
• Communication: Ability to provide concise status updates and define technical challenges to project leads and team members.
• Leadership: Ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Control System Design: Perform product selection for common automation systems and applications and support generation of accurate control system drawings.
• HMI/SCADA Configuration: Instantiate graphics and configure HMI/SCADA screens in alignment with company standards.
• PLC/DDC Programming: Support basic PLC and DDC programming tasks such as tag configuration and control logic using standard templates, reusable code libraries, or custom code.
• Testing and Commissioning: Assist with testing, device verification, and troubleshooting during bench testing, Factory Acceptance Testing, and site startup activities. Travel may be required. Expect up to 30% travel, including regular overnight stays for non-local client sites and up to 100% travel to local client sites.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate project documentation, including IO lists, Sequence of Operations, Functional Specifications, test protocols, and redline markups.
• Safety & Compliance: Follow all office and site safety procedures and participate in mandatory safety training (e.g., OSHA-10).
• Quality Control: Ensure all document and code deliverables meet established quality standards for right-first-time accuracy and on-time delivery.