Controls Engineer

West Fraser, Inc; Fairfax (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits starting Day 1

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k with company matching

Employee Stock Purchase plan

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid vacations and holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

West Fraser seeks an Automation Engineer to lead maintenance and improvement of PLC and automation systems in a large-scale manufacturing setting. You will train mill staff, address needs across the mill, and collaborate with vendors to push the project forward.

The role requires 5+ years in machine automation, strong troubleshooting skills with AB PLCs, HMI, and power drives, plus solid electrical design experience. A degree or equivalent experience is required.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience.
• 5+ years of experience designing and/or operating machine automation solutions in the manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience in working on large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills – Drives, PLC issues, control issues, electrical.
• Allen-Bradley PLC Programming and HMI Programming.
• Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 and PowerFlex 755 experience.
• Electrical Design and Drive Configuration and Network Design.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining and improving PLC and other automation control systems safely and reliably.
• Train mill personnel and elevate their skill level to match current systems.
• Engage with mill personnel to understand needs and deliver effective support.
• Maintain and service various optimization systems (software and hardware).
• Respond to emergency situations and identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist in project planning, startups, and vendor collaboration to move the mill ahead of vendor scope.
• Conduct or supervise installation, commissioning and operation of electrical/electronic equipment and systems.
• Diagnose, test and analyze performance of electrical/electronic components and systems.

Skills

Automation troubleshooting

Allen-Bradley PLC Programming

HMI Programming

PowerFlex 525/755

Electrical design

Education

Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

None

Job description

Job Description

This position also involves managing and supporting electrical teams, collaborating with vendors, and assisting in project planning, system startups, and commissioning activities. A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset is essential, with the ability to identify improvement opportunities, implement optimization systems, and respond effectively to urgent operational needs.

What Will You Do:

• Assist in maintaining and improving the PLC and other automation control systems while ensuring that all work is completed in a safe reliable manner.
• Train/impart knowledge to mill personnel. Bring the skill level at the mill up to match the systems now in place.
• Engage and work with mill-level personnel, develop an understanding of mill needs, and deliver the required help in an effective manner.
• Maintenance and care of the various optimization systems (software and hardware).
• Respond to emergency situations
• Identify opportunities for improvement and help local mill management see the same. Aid mill in implementing these improvements.
• Assist in project planning, startups, helping the mill to meet/exceed ramp expectations. Ability to work with vendors and help expeditiously move the mill beyond the vendors' expertise.
• Conduct or supervise the installation, commissioning and operation of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.
• Diagnose, test and analyze the performance of electrical and electronics components, assemblies and systems.

What You Will Need:

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience
• 5+ years of experience designing and/or operating machine automation solutions in the manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience in working on large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills – Drives, PLC issues, control issues, electrical. Ability to troubleshoot from afar and talk mill folks effectively through issues.
• Allen-Bradley PLC Programming and HMI Programming
• Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 and PowerFlex 755 experience
• Electrical Design and Drive Configuration and Network Design
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.

Our highly competitive compensation package and outstanding benefits include:

• Benefits starting Day 1
• Competitive starting pay
• On-the-job training
• A culture that strongly believes in promoting from within
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401kwith company matching & retirement contribution
• Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid vacations and holidays
• Employee Assistance Program

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company producing lumber, OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, and energy with over 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, and Europe. We are the largest lumber producer in North America, a leading global manufacturer of wood-based panels, and the world’s largest producer of oriented strand board (OSB).

We are a growing company, believe strongly in promoting from within, and pride ourselves on providing a challenging environment with continuous development. The successful candidate should be interested in future growth opportunities within the company

West Fraser is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D & Drug-Free Workplace (DFW)