Controls Engineer

Day & Zimmermann Company; Texarkana (TX); On-site; USD 94,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Day & Zimmermann in Texarkana is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, develop, and refine advanced electronic control systems, including PLCs and automated machinery, to improve manufacturing efficiency and reliability at our munition site.

You will lead large-scale control projects from concept through implementation, supervise maintenance teams, and collaborate with process owners to boost uptime, yield, and safety while documenting solutions for future reference.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical/Automation preferred), plus 5+ years engineering experience.
• Experience leading large-scale control system projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage large-scale control system projects from concept to implementation.
• Develop solutions to optimize automated equipment for throughput and efficiency.
• Supervise maintenance personnel and outsourced providers with safety and quality in mind.
• Collaborate with process owners to design user-centric control systems to boost uptime.
• Design, program, test, and troubleshoot complex control equipment; document solutions.

Skills

PLCs & SCADA integration

Electrical engineering fundamentals

Project management

Root-cause analysis

Technical documentation

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical/Automation)

Job description

Join Day & Zimmermann as a Controls Engineer at our Texarkana munitions site. This role involves designing, developing, and refining advanced electronic control systems, including PLCs and automated machinery, to enhance manufacturing efficiency and reliability. This role requires a strong foundation in Electrical Engineering principles and extensive experience managing large-scale projects. As a key contributor in our Engineering Department, you'll play a vital role in driving automation improvements, reducing downtime, and supporting production excellence in a dynamic, mission-criticalenvironment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage large-scale control system projects from concept through implementation, ensuring they meet scope, schedule, and budget requirements.
• Develop innovative solutions to optimize the utilization of existing automated equipment and tools, driving increased throughput and operational efficiency. Identify and troubleshoot production and equipment issues proactively to minimize downtime.
• Supervise, coordinate, and direct the activities of maintenance personnel and outsourced service providers, ensuring high standards of safety and quality are maintained.
• Collaborate closely with process owners to design and maintain user-centric control systems that boost production line uptime, improve product yield, and decrease scrap rates through automation advancements.
• Design, program, and troubleshoot complex control equipment with a focus on reliability and repairability. Document technical solutions comprehensively and provide expert support for control systems across the manufacturing site.
• Additional responsibilities include staying updated on industry best practices and emerging automation technologies to keep the organization's systems at the forefront of efficiency and safety.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to interpret and analyze technical documents such as safety protocols, maintenance manuals, operational procedures, and detailed electrical diagrams. Skilled in drafting clear, concise technical correspondence.
• Experience integrating and interfacing various automation systems, including PLC programming and SCADA platforms, to create seamless operational workflows.
• Demonstrated aptitude for multitasking and resolving complex technical challenges with a logical, root-cause analysis mindset, particularly in automated manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite coupled with a strong mechanical understanding essential for interfacing with mechanical components of automated systems.
• Leadership qualities with the commitment to mentor and educate engineering and maintenance teams on automated software processes and control system best practices.
• Effective communication skills to convey technical information clearly to diverse teams and maintain collaboration throughout project lifecycles.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Engineering, Engineering Technology or related field; prefer Electrical Engineer, Computer Engineer or Automation focus. Required
• 5+ years Engineering experience. Required

Compensation, Benefits, and Essential Funtions

Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.

In compliance with this state's pay transparency laws, the wage range for this role is $93,600 - $140,400. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).

We care about our employees and it shows. Our staff receive a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical/Rx, dental and vision coverage; life, AD&D and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; 100% paid maternity leave for up to 12 weeks, parental leave, family leave, other paid time off; voluntary benefits and discount programs to meet our employees' individual needs including pet insurance for our furry family members!

Essential Funtions

• Visual acuity (e.g., needed to prepare and analyze data, to transcribe documents, to view a computer, to read, to inspect objects, to operate machinery
• Pushing or pulling (e.g., using a part of your body to press against something in a downward or outward direction, or in a dragging or hauling motion)
• Balancing (e.g., maintaining equilibrium when walking, climbing, crouching etc.)
• Manual Dexterity (e.g., picking, pinching, typing, or other working that uses the fingers)
• Stooping (e.g., bending the spine at the waist)
• Grasping (e.g., use of hand to apply pressure)
• Reaching (e.g., reaching the arms or legs in any direction)
• Feeling (e.g., perceiving an object's size, shape, texture etc.)
• Lifting motion or lifting objects more than 0 pounds
• Climbing (e.g., ascending/descending ladders, stair, scaffolding, ramps, pole etc. using feet and legs or hands/arms to climb)
• Walking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motions of any part of the body
• Talking
• Kneeling, crouching or crawling
• Capacity to think, concentrate and focus over long periods of time
• Ability to write complex documents in the [English] language
• Ability to read complex documents in [English] language
• Capacity to express thoughts orally (e.g., accurately, quick and loudly convey spoken instructions to workers)
• Capacity to reason and make sound decisions
• Ability to wear a mask, respirator, bullet proof vest, or other equipment
• Ability to regularly perform all job functions at Company's office or work site
• Ability to withstand environmental conditions (e.g., extreme heat or cold, grass, wind, sand, fumes, odors, gases, extreme noise, etc.)

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