Electrical and Automation Engineer

MTR.vet; Laurel (MS); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k with up to 6% match

PTO - 15 days accrued in the first year

Job summary

A leading technical recruiting firm based in Laurel, Mississippi is seeking an Electrical and Automation Engineer to ensure the reliable, efficient, and safe operation of electrical and control systems across the facility. The role involves troubleshooting and maintaining PLCs and electrical systems, leading automation projects, and ensuring compliance with food safety and occupational safety regulations. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field and a strong background in PLC programming.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience troubleshooting, repairing and programming PLCs.
• Experience in a food production environment preferred.
• Knowledge of electrical codes and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure reliable operation of electrical and control systems.
• Lead maintenance and automation projects.
• Adhere to food safety and occupational safety regulations.

Skills

Troubleshooting PLCs

Preventive maintenance

Programming PLCs

Electrical system diagnostics

Continuous improvement

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens PLC

HMIs and SCADA systems

Job description

Military Technical Recruiting (MTR.vet) | Full time

The Electrical and Automation Engineer is responsible for ensuring reliable, efficient, and safe operation of all electrical and control systems across the factory facility. This role leads automation initiatives, performing troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement projects to optimize production performance, product quality, and energy efficiency.

Maintenance Tasks

Ensure the maintenance plan has purpose, that it evolves to allow the maximum time available for production, no strip and rebuild for the sake of it! Only replace worn/ broken parts – condition based rather than planned based maintenance

Drive the tasks through required work from observations and data, not just theoretical plans

Full evaluation of, cost, availability and requirement to decide if run to failure or replace

Maintenance always follows production, not the other way around.

Ensure that maintenance tasks adhere to company’s food safety polices at all times.

Ensure all working practices comply with company rules and procedures so that you and any other people using the area of work can do so safely.

Always keep full and up to date records of all equipment to ensure traceability

Overall, you will ensure that the maintenance plan has purpose, that it evolves to allow the maximum time available for production, no strip and rebuild for the sake of it! Only replace worn/ broken parts – condition based rather than planned based maintenance.

Requirements

5 years of experience troubleshooting, repairing and programming PLC's

5 years of experience working in a food environment (may consider other strong PLC experience)

Electrical Systems & Maintenance

Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on electrical systems, motors, drives, and control panels.

Diagnose and repair electrical faults, power distribution, PLCs, and instrumentation systems.

Maintain and update electrical drawings, schematics, and documentation.

Ensure compliance with electrical codes, safety standards, and food manufacturing regulations.

Automation & Controls

Program, modify, and troubleshoot PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar), HMIs, and SCADA systems.

Support automation of production lines such as mix plant, freezer, filler, and packaging systems.

Develop and implement control logic to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality.

Collaborate with process engineers and operators to resolve automation issues and implement process improvements.

Lead or support electrical and automation projects, including upgrades, new line installations, and equipment integration.

Work with vendors and contractors to specify, design, and commission automation solutions.

Participate in continuous improvement and reliability programs (TPM, Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma).

Optimize energy usage and sustainability performance through automation and system upgrades.

Compliance & Safety

Ensure adherence to food safety (HACCP, GMP) and occupational safety regulations (OSHA, NFPA).

Conduct risk assessments, lockout/tagout (LOTO) audits, and equipment safety validations.

Full Benefits Package - see attached

Medical

401k/up to 6% match

PTO -accrued every 2 weeks 15 days first year