Automation Project Lead - Paper Mill Controls

Sonoco Products Company; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 84,640 - 95,220; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Wellbeing resources and EAP

Paid time off and holidays

Insurance plans including life and dis

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sonoco Products Company is seeking a Controls Engineer to maintain, upgrade, and optimize automation systems at the mill. The role collaborates with maintenance, engineering, and operations to improve safety, reliability, and productivity of plant controls.

You will lead projects, develop modernization plans, and support commissioning and startup activities for control system upgrades. The candidate should have experience with PLC programming (Rockwell/AB, Siemens), AutoCAD, and drive systems,

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Associates degree with relevant field experience acceptable.
• Experience with PLC programming including ladder logic, function diagrams, and structured text.

Responsibilities

• Act as project lead for automation and control projects.
• Troubleshoot using loop sheets and electrical diagrams.
• Create loop sheets and control diagrams in AutoCAD.
• Tune and audit control loop performance.
• Collaborate with engineers and operations to meet scope, budget, and schedule.
• Prepare documentation for bids, installation, and startup of control systems.
• Provide commissioning and startup support for projects.
• Develop and maintain a project funnel for upgrades.
• Work with process engineers to optimize performance.
• Direct maintenance team on control-related work orders.
• Train maintenance staff on automation systems.
• Troubleshoot system upsets with the team.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI configuration

Team collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Project leadership

Education

BS in electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering

AS degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Rockwell/Allen Bradley

Siemens PLCs

AutoCAD

AC/DC drives

DCS (ABB, Foxboro)

Schneider DCS / Voith QCS / Rockwell PLCs

Job description

Sonoco Products Company is seeking a Controls Engineer to maintain, upgrade, and optimize automation systems at the mill. The role collaborates with maintenance, engineering, and operations to improve safety, reliability, and productivity of plant controls.

You will lead projects, develop modernization plans, and support commissioning and startup activities for control system upgrades. The candidate should have experience with PLC programming (Rockwell/AB, Siemens), AutoCAD, and drive systems,