Automation and Controls Engineering Co-Op

Borgwarner Emissions Systems Spain SL; North Carolina; On-site; USD 20,664 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Savings Plan (401k)

Paid opportunities based on college class standing

Housing support and travel reimbursement

Job summary

A leading automotive company is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineering Co-Op in North Carolina. The role involves supporting PLC and HMI/SCADA activities in a high-volume manufacturing environment and offers hands-on learning with Controls Engineers. Candidates should be working towards a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field and have exposure to PLC programming tasks. This position provides competitive pay and benefits including retirement savings and housing support.

Qualifications

• Working towards a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Exposure to PLC concepts and logic.
• Ability to read electrical schematics.

Responsibilities

• Assist with PLC programming tasks under engineering review.
• Support troubleshooting of automation equipment.
• Document system configurations and standard work instructions.

Skills

PLC programming

Basic understanding of sensors

Proficiency in Microsoft Suite

Problem-solving mindset

Clear communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

HMI/SCADA platforms

Basic programming skills (Python, SQL, C/C++)

Job description

Automation and Controls Engineering Co-Op

Automation and Controls Engineering Co-Op

About Us

BorgWarner is a global product leader in delivering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. We are a company of innovators and independent thinkers that brings together talented employees, meaningful work and amazing technology in a unique environment. At BorgWarner, we constantly work towards our vision of a clean and energy-efficient world.

Our Culture

BorgWarner promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive environment, honors integrity, strives for excellence, commits to responsibility for our communities and the environment, and builds on the power of collaboration. We believe the health and safety of our employees are a top priority.

We manage talent as seriously as we manage our businesses and encourage you to learn about our proud history, strong culture, technologies, and vision for the future. We offer positions locally and globally with over 80 locations in 19 countries.

If this position energizes you and you feel you can help us achieve our mission and vision, you are invited to submit an application for consideration.

You may see the list of requirements and feel you do not meet all of them. However, remember that BorgWarner thinks differently. If your qualifications align with the majority of those outlined in this job description, we encourage you to apply and share your experience and skills with us.

The BorgWarner Arden campus offers two world class technical centers and a cutting-edge manufacturing facility that designs and produces turbos, fan, and fan drive components for the automotive industry. The Arden campus offers a multitude of career opportunities and is in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

We are seeking a controls-focused Automation & Controls Engineering co-op to support PLC and HMI/SCADA activities in a high-volume manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on learning role where you will work alongside Controls Engineers and Maintenance teams to help maintain, troubleshoot, document, and improve industrial automation systems while building strong foundational skills in controls engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with PLC programming tasks such as adding or updating tags, implementing simple ladder logic changes, and supporting standardized code structure under engineering review
• Help with commissioning and validation activities (I/O checks, sensor verification, device addressing, safety interlock verification) and document test results.
• Support troubleshooting of automation equipment by collecting symptoms, checking I/O status and alarms, and helping identify root causes with a mentor.
• Assist with basic industrial networking and device communications checks (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus) under guidance
• Document system configurations, troubleshooting notes, and standard work instructions; help build training and turnover materials.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Operations, Maintenance, Quality, IT/BRM) to support production, reduce downtime, and improve reliability.
• Support continuous improvement activities by gathering data, performing basic analysis, and proposing small enhancements under supervision
• Follow all BorgWarner safety rules and EHS requirements while working around energized equipment and production machinery

What we are looking for

• Working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Academic or project-based exposure to PLC concepts and logic (Ladder, Function Block, or Structured Text)
• Basic understanding of sensors, actuators, motors/drives, and control fundamentals
• Ability to read (or learn to read) electrical schematics and follow troubleshooting steps
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
• Comfort using a laptop and basic tools for commissioning/troubleshooting in a plant environment.
• Strong problem-solving mindset, curiosity, and willingness to learn quickly.
• Clear communication skills and ability to document work and follow standard processes.
• Preferred experience:
  • Exposure to PLCs
  • Exposure to HMI/SCADA platforms
  • Exposure to industrial communications and basic networking concepts
  • Basic scripting/programming skills (Python, SQL, C/C++)
  • Hands‑on lab or project experience with robotics or motion control

What we offer

All positions start at an above market pay rate for that position. Benefits are also above market and include the below for all student employees:

• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with a matching program
• All positions are paid opportunities based on college class standing
• Housing support and travel reimbursement according to policy requirements

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