Automation Engineer

Sealed Air; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Sealed Air is seeking an Automation Engineer in the United States to design, commission, and improve industrial controls for global plants. You will work closely with R&D, process engineering, procurement, and operations to deliver safe, high-performing production equipment.

The role emphasizes Rockwell and Siemens PLCs, Ignition HMIs, electrical CAD tools, and motor control with safety and CE compliance. This US-based position supports worldwide projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering, 3–5 years’ experience in process control.
• Strong knowledge of PLC platforms (Rockwell, Siemens) and HMI/SCADA (Ignition).
• Experience with VFDs, motor control, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus).

Responsibilities

• Support automation from design through commissioning of new plants.
• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA systems.
• Develop electrical schematics, I/O lists, panel layouts using CAD tools.
• Configure motor control systems and VFDs.
• Plan FAT/SAT and document results; ensure safety compliance.
• Standardize automation architectures for plant-wide reuse.

Skills

Rockwell PLC

Siemens PLC

HMI/SCADA

VFDs

Industrial networks

Safety design

Education

Bachelors in Electrical/Automation Eng

Tools

EPLAN

DraftSight

PowerFlex

Electrical CAD

Job description

Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com .

Job Description

The Automation Engineer at Sealed Air designs, commissions, and improves industrial controls and process automation systems for projects across Sealed Air's global plants. The role combines hands-on PLC, HMI, and motor-control expertise with machine-safety and standardization work, partnering with R&D, process engineering, procurement, and operations to deliver safe, reliable, high-performing production equipment. The position is US-based and supports global projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Support automation and process control activities from design through commissioning of new industrial projects and production lines at global plants.
• Design, program, commission, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems and industrial networks on Rockwell, Siemens, Ignition, and other platforms.
• Develop and validate electrical schematics, I/O lists, panel layouts, and control narratives using electrical CAD tools such as EPLAN, or DraftSight.
• Configure, commission, and troubleshoot motor control systems and variable frequency drives.
• Plan and execute FAT/SAT activities, controls checkouts, and acceptance testing; document results and resolve issues before release to production.
• Apply CE Directives, risk assessment methodologies, performance level (PL) calculations, and machine-safety design to automation systems.
• Troubleshoot and optimize existing automation systems and production lines; propose and implement improvements in performance, safety, and obsolescence management.
• Contribute to standardization of automation architectures and engineering guidelines, and develop scalable, reusable control solutions to speed deployment across plants.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering or a closely related discipline, with 3-5 years of experience in industrial process control system realization from design to commissioning, or equivalent.

Required Skills and Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of PLC platforms, including Rockwell Automation (Studio 5000 / Logix Designer) and Siemens.
• Strong knowledge of HMI and SCADA systems, including Ignition.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting VFDs and motor control systems (PowerFlex preferred).
• Working knowledge of industrial networks and protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and Profibus.
• Good knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC), understanding of risk assessment methodologies, PL calculations, and safety design, plus willingness to learn and apply applicable global standards such as the CE Directives
• Ability to read electrical and pneumatic diagrams and experience with electrical CAD tools.
• Production line commissioning capability (FAT and SAT).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project-management tools.
• Experience configuring and tuning PID process control loops.
• Experience in manufacturing, plastic packaging, or extrusion environments is a plus.

Competencies and Behaviors

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including with cross-functional and international teams.
• Strong ownership and a problem-solving attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to manage priorities in fast-paced industrial environments.
• Curiosity to learn new processes and techniques, with a drive for continuous improvement.

Benefits and Perks

Requisition id:57042

Relocation:Yes

Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

It is our responsibility to leverage what we have to affect positive and meaningful change for our communities and planet using Sealed Air’s global resources and expertise.

Corporate sustainability -it’s about improving the lives of people around the world by addressing pressing needs in the communities where we and our customers operate.

Customer Success -meeting our customers' needs. At Sealed Air it’s more than a goal, it’s an integral part of our business practices, our innovative solutions, and our values.

Leaving our communities better than we found them through dedication of time, talent and resources.