Controls Engineer

Austin Powder; McArthur Township (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder seeks a skilled Controls Engineer for its McArthur, Ohio site to design, implement, and support PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems across the production environment.

The role collaborates with Production and Maintenance to improve reliability, safety, and cost-efficiency, while mentoring staff and ensuring regulatory compliance in a challenging industrial setting.

Qualifications

• BSc in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years of professional experience.
• Experience programming PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.

Responsibilities

• Electrical design for new capital projects and improvements.
• Design, build, and install new control systems.
• Improve equipment reliability, safety, and cost efficiency.
• Provide capital cost estimates and project timelines for electrical work.
• Support Manufacturing & Process Control with technical guidance.

Skills

Electrical engineering

PLC programming

HMI

SCADA

Process control

Safety compliance

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Controls Engineer Overview

This Controls engineering position provides expertise in industrial manufacturing and process controls to support our manufacturing site to produce chemically manufactured energetic materials and the production of packaged explosives. This role is to provide expertise in controls engineering with a primary focus in the design, implementation, and support of PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems. The Red Diamond plant produces chemically manufactured energetic materials and packaged explosives. The successful candidate will work with production managers and support staff to produce in a safe, compliant, high quality, and cost-efficient operation. The Red Diamond site in McArthur, Ohio was established in 1930 and has undergone many changes in the years since

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Responsible for the electrical aspects of new capital and improvement projects including hardware design, programming, design documentation, networking, data acquisition, equipment installation, equipment debug, and support.
• Hands‑on approach to projects - design, build and install new control systems.
• Work on engineering solutions to improve equipment reliability and safety, lower operation and maintenance costs, and improve ergonomics.
• Supply project leaders with capital cost estimates and project timelines for completion of electrical work.
• Provide technical support in Manufacturing & Process Control for Production and Maintenance departments.
• Mentor maintenance and production personnel in maintenance and troubleshooting of electrical systems.
• Work with and often manage outside engineering and construction personnel.
• Ensure all safety, health, environmental, and compliance aspects for the projects meet the appropriate regulations.
• Support the Process Safety Management (PSM) program at Red Diamond Plant by completing documentation where needed on projects.
• Support unit leadership in the oversight of startup and shutdown for major events.
• Maintain and develop plant electrical loads analysis, Arc Flash requirements and One-Line drawings.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years’ professional experience.
• Experience programming PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and engineering software tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Commitment to safety and attention to detail.
• Team‑oriented with a proactive and adaptable mindset.

Work Environment

Manufacturing plant setting with exposure to chemical processes and industrial equipment. On‑Plant Less than 5% travel.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Aff…

Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true around the globe as the company has expanded to be one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.