Automation Controls Engineer

Potters Industries; Apex (NC); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Potters Industries is seeking an Automation & Controls Engineer to provide hands-on automation support across NA facilities. You will serve as the primary technical resource for PLC, HMI, and control systems, driving standardization, reliability, and safety improvements.

You will develop practical automation solutions, collaborate with operations, and lead root-cause investigations while supporting capital projects and equipment startups. Requires 3+ years with AB PLCs and FactoryTalk View.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley CompactLogix/ControlLogix.
• Experience with FactoryTalk View ME/SE and PanelView.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and capital-project support.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on automation and controls support across North America, with remote and on-site troubleshooting.
• Program, modify, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems and PanelView HMI interfaces.
• Develop and deploy Rockwell FactoryTalk View applications ME/SE; validate until commissioning.
• Collaborate with plant engineering, maintenance, IT, vendors, and integrators to implement improvements.
• Lead investigations, implement corrective actions, and maintain backups and recovery plans.

Skills

Automation & Controls

PLC Programming

HMI Development

Troubleshooting

Industrial Networking

Rockwell Automation

Root Cause Analysis

Equipment Reliability

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Rockwell FactoryTalk View Studio ME/SE

PanelView terminals

EtherNet/IP

Job description

This position pays between $115,000. - $130,000

Job Summary

The Automation & Controls Engineer provides hands-on automation and controls engineering support across North American manufacturing facilities. The position serves as the primary technical resource for PLC, HMI, industrial networking, and control systems, supporting commissioning, troubleshooting, continuous improvement, and capital projects. This role develops practical automation solutions, drives standardization efforts, and improves equipment reliability, safety, quality, and operational performance. This position operates with a high degree of autonomy and independence. The Automation & Controls Engineer will evaluate manufacturing and controls challenges, develop solutions, establish standards where none currently exist, and drive implementation while collaborating with operations.

What you will be doing

• Provide hands-on automation and controls support across NA, including remote and on-site troubleshooting.
• Commission, program, modify, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley CompactLogix and ControlLogix PLC systems.
• Develop, modify, deploy, and troubleshoot Rockwell FactoryTalk View Studio ME and SE applications.
• Commission, configure, modify, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PanelView operator interface terminals.
• Diagnose industrial control system issues involving digital and analog I/O, field devices, instrumentation, control wiring, communications, and related hardware.
• Develop and implement automation solutions based on desired equipment and process outcomes, utilizing sound engineering judgment where standards do not already exist.
• Support equipment startups, upgrades, controls retrofits, and integration of new manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot Ethernet and EtherNet/IP communications, network connectivity, and device communications.
• Partner with plant engineering, maintenance, operations, OEMs, IT resources, vendors, and system integrators to implement automation improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations related to automation and controls failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Maintain PLC backups, version control, system recovery procedures, and disaster recovery plans for critical automation assets.
• Document PLC, HMI, network, and control system modifications in accordance with company standards.
• Establish and maintain automation, PLC programming, HMI development, and controls hardware standards across North American facilities.
• Support capital projects through controls design reviews, FAT/SAT participation, equipment commissioning, and project startup activities.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and training to plant engineering, maintenance, and operations personnel.
• Evaluate new automation technologies and identify opportunities for continuous improvement and standardization.
• Travel to North American manufacturing locations as required to support troubleshooting, commissioning, projects, and operational needs.
• Exercise independent judgment in diagnosing controls-related issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Serve as the company primary technical resource for automation and controls systems.
• Support development of controls spare-parts, obsolescence, backup, and disaster-recovery strategies.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Controls, Mechatronics, or a related technical field; equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

Three plus years of firsthand experience commissioning, programming, modifying, and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley CompactLogix and ControlLogix processors.

Three plus years of firsthand experience using Rockwell FactoryTalk View Studio to develop and deploy ME and SE applications.

Three plus years of experience commissioning and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PanelView systems.

Three plus years of Hands-on industrial controls experience including digital and analog I/O, instrumentation, control wiring, and interpretation of electrical drawings and schematics.

Three plus years of experience independently leading automation troubleshooting, programming, commissioning, and continuous improvement initiatives with limited supervision.

Training/Certifications

Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley technical training or certifications preferred.

Electrical safety / NFPA 70E training preferred or ability to complete required company training.

Industrial networking or EtherNet/IP training preferred.

Valid driver's license and ability to travel to company manufacturing locations as required.

Additional plant-specific safety training to be completed as required.