Automation and Controls Engineer

DuBois Chemicals, Inc.; Sharonville (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

DuBois Chemicals, Inc. is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineer to lead programming and maintenance of automated control systems at the Sharonville facility, with about 15% travel to other sites.

The role focuses on standardizing hardware and software, implementing safety systems, and providing proactive maintenance. You will develop system architectures, write PLC/DCS logic, optimize HMI layouts, integrate PlantPAx and ERP interfaces, and collaborate with manufacturing, quality, safety

Qualifications

• Experience programming PLC and DCS systems for automated operations.
• Knowledge of SCADA/PlantPAx or similar control systems.
• Ability to design and implement safety interlocks and e-stops.
• Strong troubleshooting and continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent collaboration with manufacturing, quality, safety teams.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and maintain technical documentation including wiring diagrams and schematics.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E and OSHA safety standards.
• Provide remote control and automation support to satellite facilities.
• Develop standardization guides for hardware and software.
• Design and upgrade system architecture to meet requirements.
• Write and test PLC and DCS programs.
• Create operator instructions and training for controls upgrades.
• Integrate digital manufacturing software to improve plant visibility.
• Perform root cause analyses on control system failures.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Reliability for PMs.

Skills

PLC programming

DCS programming

SCADA

HMI design

Robotics control

Safety systems

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Documentation

Remote support

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they are doing!

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Automation and Controls Engineer is a key position on the Manufacturing Engineering Team that is responsible for programming and maintaining automated control systems to ensure efficient operations. This role sets the standardization for system architecture software and hardware requirements along with implementing safety systems. Providing ongoing support for automated systems, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring optimum performance through correctly identified preventative and predictive maintenance is key. This function provides input to the selection of and leads the implementation of digital manufacturing software to improve operational efficiency. This role is based at the Sharonville facility but will require approximately 15% travel to support additional manufacturing sites.

Scope of Responsibility

General

• Interpret and maintain technical documentation including wiring diagrams, loop drawings, block diagrams, and schematics.
• Comply with escalation matrix for control system discrepancies and operator challenges.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E electrical safety and OSHA safety standards.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers, production, quality, safety, to ensure controls systems are implemented with end user input.
• Utilize a continuous improvement mindset and problem-solving tools throughout troubleshooting.
• Provide remote control and automation support to satellite facilities.
• Comply with change management process for documentation and automation modifications.

System Architecture & Standardization

• Create standardization guides for controlling hardware and software
• Design, maintain, and determine upgrades required to the system architecture
• Integrate a safety system into the control scheme including interlocks, e-stops, etc
• Standardize system architecture across sites to manage systems effectively
• Maintain and integrate SCADA network

Programming & Process Automation

• Write and test PLC and DCS programs for automated operations systems
• Create, troubleshoot, maintain, and modify programming logic
• Collaborate with production on optimized HMI layouts
• Interpret and troubleshoot robotic control scheme
• Create and implement operator instructions/training for controls upgrades and changes

I/O Device Integration & Maintenance

• Configure and install I/O devices including but not limited to flow control, level control, temperature control, and pH monitoring
• Integrate control loops with associated instrumentation
• Determine PMs for I/O devices and automation equipment and set up in coordination with the Maintenance and Reliability Manager
• Maintain networked I/O modules
• Determine current network protocols and standardize them across sites

Digital Systems

• Implement and maintain digital manufacturing software to improve plant floor visibility and operational responsiveness
• Support integration of data between manufacturing software (PlantPAx to ERP System, CMMS to MES, etc.)
• Collaborate with production to ensure optimal operator interface with digital manufacturing software

System Monitoring & Deviation Detection

• Maintain the process monitoring/historian database
• Perform root cause analyses on control system and automation failures