Automation Engineer

TRS Staffing Solutions; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

TRS Staffing Solutions is seeking an Automation / Drives Engineer in Augusta, GA. You will own operability, reliability, and optimization of plant automation and drives systems with emphasis on medium voltage drives, PLCs, and related instrumentation.

You’ll collaborate with Maintenance, Reliability and Production teams to ensure safe, efficient and reliable operations, driving continuous improvement and technology upgrades across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and 3–5 years of instrumentation and controls experience in industrial manufacturing.
• Experience with medium voltage Rockwell Powerline 6000T, Siemens drives, Simacode, TIA Portal, WinCC, and Siemens PLC.
• Experience with OT/IT interfaces and OSI PI systems.
• Experience with Profinet, Modbus, and OPC UA communication.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems.
• Strong problem-solving, leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the reliability, operability, and overall health of plant automation and drive systems.
• Optimize automation programming and control strategies to meet production objectives.
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of critical automation and drive system failures to minimize downtime.
• Develop and implement long-term reliability strategies for automation and drive systems.
• Prepare technical specifications for new equipment installations, upgrades, and modernization projects.
• Support all MOC processes, ensuring compliance and successful implementation.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs, including spare parts management.
• Provide advanced technical support for automation- and drive-related troubleshooting.
• Lead development and training of maintenance personnel in automation and drive systems.
• Coordinate with external consultants and contractors to support automation projects.
• Collaborate with manufacturers to optimize system performance and spare parts strategies.
• Partner with Production, Maintenance and Engineering to align automation with business goals.
• Maintain automation system documentation and standards for training.
• Monitor performance and implement corrective actions for continuous improvement.
• Support commissioning, startup, and validation of new/modified automation systems.

Skills

Problem-solving

Leadership

Communication

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Rockwell Powerline 6000T

Siemens drives

Simacode

TIA Portal

WinCC

Siemens PLC

OSI PI

Profinet

Modbus

OPC UA

PLC

HMIs

SCADA

Job description

Job title: Automation Engineer (Drives)

Location: Augusta, GA

Industry: metals, complex processing, industrial manufacturing

Status of Hire: full-time, salaried, direct hire

Reports To: Reliability Manager

Pay: $130-160k depending on experience

Job Summary

As the Automation / Drives Engineer, you will be responsible for operability, reliability and optimization of the plant’s automation and drives systems, with an emphasis on medium voltage drives but also PLC, including instrumentation, controls, and data management systems. You will work closely with the plant Maintenance, Reliability and Production teams to ensure that the automation / drives systems are delivered per design and optimized for long term reliability. You will leverage strong collaboration and communication skills to ensure systems are optimized for safety, efficiency, and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the reliability, operability, and overall health of plant automation and drive systems
• Optimize automation programming and control strategies to meet production, quality, and operational performance objectives
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of critical automation and drive system failures to minimize downtime
• Develop and implement long-term reliability strategies for automation and drive systems.
• Prepare technical specifications for new equipment installations, upgrades, and modernization projects
• Support all Automation and Drives Management of Change (MOC) processes, ensuring compliance and successful implementation
• Develop and oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs, including spare parts and lifecycle management strategies
• Provide advanced technical support for automation- and drive-related troubleshooting across the facility
• Lead the technical development and training of maintenance craft personnel in automation and drive systems
• Manage external engineering consultants and contractors as required to support automation and capital projects
• Collaborate with equipment manufacturers and technical vendors to optimize system performance, reliability, and spare parts strategies
• Partner with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and other stakeholders to ensure automation systems support operational and business objectives
• Maintain and oversee automation system documentation, standards, and technical records to support maintenance and operator training
• Monitor automation system performance, identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and implement corrective actions
• Support commissioning, startup, and validation activities for new and modified automation systems, ensuring successful project execution
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to improve equipment reliability, system availability, and overall plant performance

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field plus 3-5 years of experience in Instrumentation and Controls Engineering in an industrial manufacturing or complex processing environment (or a comparable combination of education and experience in the automation field)
• Preferred Experience with medium voltage Rockwell Powerline 6000T, Siemens drives, soft starts, Simacode, TIA Portal, WinCC, Siemens PLC
• Experience with OT/IT interface, OSI PI system
• Experience with Server-Client architecture industrial communication Profinet, Modbus, OPCUA, etc.
• Experience with automation software and hardware systems, such as PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to manage and motivate teams effectively
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Comfort with a fast-paced, quickly changing environment

Must be authorized to work in the United States, client is not able to offer sponsorship at this time

Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by governing law.