Electrical Engineer

Ahlstrom-5; Kaukauna (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ahlstrom seeks an Electrical Engineer to support electrical equipment and control systems at the Thilmany Plant in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. You will troubleshoot, plan maintenance, and drive capital projects with a hands-on, team-oriented approach.

The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and collaboration with maintenance, operations, and engineering teams on-site. Bachelor’s degree required; experience with PLCs/HMIs/DCS/VFDs preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Working knowledge of electrical equipment and industrial control systems used in manufacturing.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of electrical safety practices and applicable codes and standards.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate technical work, and follow projects through completion.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with maintenance, operations, engineering, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide electrical engineering support for manufacturing equipment, power distribution, motors, drives, instrumentation, and industrial control systems.
• Partner with maintenance and operations to troubleshoot equipment failures, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Develop and recommend improvements that enhance equipment safety, reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, equipment condition assessments, and obsolescence planning.
• Support electrical and automation projects from scope development and equipment specification through installation, commissioning, and documentation.
• Coordinate technical requirements with vendors and contractors in collaboration with the Maintenance Manager and project stakeholders.
• Maintain electrical drawings, schematics, equipment specifications, control system documentation, and records of approved changes.
• Support planned outages and shutdowns by identifying electrical work requirements, preparing technical information, and assisting with startup readiness.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to operating teams as needed.
• Follow site safety requirements and support applicable electrical safety standards, energy-isolation procedures, and change-management processes.
• Communicate equipment risks, project status, priorities, and resource needs to the Maintenance Manager.
• Participate in the weekend duty rotation to provide support for facility operations during weekends and holidays.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to operating teams as needed.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Troubleshooting

Reading drawings

Safety practices

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLCs

HMIs

DCS

VFDs

Job description

Requisition ID5869-Posted10/21/2026-Protective Materials-Technical Materials BU-Thilmany Plant-Kaukauna- Posting Country (1)

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people,like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth. Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere! We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?

We are seeking an Electrical Engineer to support the safety, reliability, and performance of electrical equipment and control systems in a manufacturing environment. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, this individual contributor provides hands‑on engineering support for troubleshooting, equipment improvements, maintenance planning, and capital projects. Based onsite at the Thilmany facility in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, this role partners closely with maintenance, operations, and engineering teams to reduce downtime, resolve recurring equipment issues, and improve long‑term asset reliability. This position provides technical guidance and project coordination without direct supervisory responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide electrical engineering support for manufacturing equipment, power distribution, motors, drives, instrumentation, and industrial control systems.
• Partner with maintenance and operations to troubleshoot equipment failures, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Develop and recommend improvements that enhance equipment safety, reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, equipment condition assessments, and obsolescence planning.
• Support electrical and automation projects from scope development and equipment specification through installation, commissioning, and documentation.
• Coordinate technical requirements with vendors and contractors in collaboration with the Maintenance Manager and project stakeholders.
• Maintain electrical drawings, schematics, equipment specifications, control system documentation, and records of approved changes.
• Support planned outages and shutdowns by identifying electrical work requirements, preparing technical information, and assisting with startup readiness.
• Provide technical guidance and knowledge sharing to maintenance and operations personnel without assuming direct supervisory responsibility.
• Follow site safety requirements and support applicable electrical safety standards, energy‑isolation procedures, and change‑management processes.
• Communicate equipment risks, project status, priorities, and resource needs to the Maintenance Manager.
• Participate in the weekend duty rotation to provide support for facility operations during weekends and holidays.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to operating teams as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Working knowledge of electrical equipment and industrial control systems used in manufacturing.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Understanding of electrical safety practices and applicable codes and standards.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate technical work, and follow projects through completion.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with maintenance, operations, engineering, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently while recognizing when to seek input or elevate equipment and safety concerns.
• Current authorization to work in the United States on a full‑time basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Electrical engineering experience in a manufacturing or continuous‑process environment.
• Experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human‑machine interfaces (HMIs), distributed control systems (DCS), and variable‑frequency drives (VFDs).
• Experience supporting power distribution systems, motor controls, and instrumentation.
• Experience with root‑cause analysis, reliability improvement, and preventive or predictive maintenance programs.
• Experience coordinating equipment upgrades, capital projects, or shutdown work.
• Familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and electrical design software.
• Experience in paper manufacturing or a similar industrial setting.

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non‑disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.
About Us.Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.