Automation Specialist — Plant Operations Support

Price Industries Inc; Suwanee (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Price Industries is seeking a Corporate Automation Engineer to serve as a subject matter expert supporting plant-driven automation projects across HVAC component manufacturing operations.

This role works directly with plant teams to identify practical automation opportunities, assist with proof-of-concept development, support project definition, and provide technical guidance throughout the automation project life cycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automation, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field; equivalent practical experience considered.
• 3+ years of experience supporting automation, controls, manufacturing engineering, maintenance engineering, or technical project implementation in an industrial environment.
• Working knowledge of industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, actuators, machine controls, industrial networks, and equipment integration concepts.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, startup, or process improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work with plant teams to translate operational problems into clear automation requirements, practical concepts, and defined implementation needs.
• Experience interacting with integrators, OEMs, contractors, or technical vendors during equipment specification, build, installation, or startup activities.
• Strong communication, documentation, and follow-through skills with the ability to support multiple plant stakeholders without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Automation SME support: Serve as a corporate technical resource for plant teams evaluating and implementing automation opportunities in HVAC component manufacturing.
• Plant-driven project support: Work with plant teams to understand production needs, define automation concepts, and align before execution.
• Proof of concept and project definition: Assist feasibility reviews, process observations, layout concepts, and scope development.
• Integrator and OEM coordination: Review concepts, specifications, proposals, drawings, schedules, controls architecture, and assumptions with external partners.
• Project life cycle technical support: Guide design, build, FAT/SAT, install, startup, validation, troubleshooting, and hand-off.
• Controls, data, and OT readiness: Ensure PLC/HMI, networking, data collection, cybersecurity, backups, and long-term supportability.
• Safety, reliability, and maintainability: Evaluate safety, guarding, interlocks, maintenance access, spare parts, docs, training, and readiness.
• Standards and continuous improvement: Capture lessons learned and share best practices across plants.
• Technology awareness: Stay current on robotics, machine vision, material handling, sensing, controls, and data tools.

Skills

Communications

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Technical documentation

Workflow coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automation, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field

Tools

PLC

HMI

SCADA

OPC UA

MQTT

Job description

Price Industries is seeking a Corporate Automation Engineer to serve as a subject matter expert supporting plant-driven automation projects across HVAC component manufacturing operations.

This role works directly with plant teams to identify practical automation opportunities, assist with proof-of-concept development, support project definition, and provide technical guidance throughout the automation project life cycle.