Electrical Engineer - PLC/Automation

Packaging-Corporation-of-America; Jackson (AL); On-site; USD 86,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Life, AD&D, disability coverages

401k plan

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is seeking an Automation Maintenance professional to develop and implement plans that ensure safety, quality, and productivity. The role focuses on keeping automation equipment running with maximum uptime and coordinating external services as needed.

Qualified candidates hold a Bachelor’s in electrical engineering (or an Associate degree with 3–5 years of related experience) and have knowledge of automation equipment, drives, Allen-Bradley PLCs, virtual

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering; 1 year related experience preferred or Associate degree with 3–5 years experience.
• Knowledge of automation equipment operation, repair, and maintenance; drives and PLCs.
• Willing to work any shift, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement maintenance plans to ensure safety, quality, productivity.
• Maintain automation equipment to maximize uptime and reliability.
• Coordinate outside contractors and equipment for department needs.
• Plan daily and weekly work schedules and manpower assignments.
• Establish and monitor automation preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime.
• Support shutdown scheduling and long-term equipment decisions for maximum uptime.
• Arrange outside services to meet department goals.

Skills

Automation maintenance

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Industrial networking

Virtual servers

Pulp & paper industry

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Associates degree in related field

Job description

Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position is responsible for developing and implementing plans to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and efficient utilization of automation maintenance personnel. Support the operating departments by providing maintenance input on long-term automation equipment decisions and maintaining the existing equipment to insure maximum uptime. Arrange for supporting services from outside contractors and equipment required to meet department needs. Provide input to the daily and weekly planning to ensure work schedules and manpower assignments are cost effective. Establish, develop, implement, improve, and monitor the automation preventive maintenance program to reduce unscheduled downtime. Support the operating departments by providing input to shutdown scheduling and long-term equipment decisions to ensure maximum uptime. Arrange outside services as required to meet department goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and minimum one (1) years job related experience preferred or Associates Degree in related field with three (3) to five (5) years job experience.
• Knowledge of operation, repair, and maintenance of automation equipment, drives, Allen Bradley PLCs, IBA, Virtual Servers (preferred), Networking (preferred), key maintenance indicators, and pulp and paper industry.
• Must be willing and able to work any shift, weekends, holidays, and overtime, as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Starting salary range for position: $86,400 - $108,000
• Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year. Pro-rata Vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages -- medical, dental, and vision – and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA’s good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified Applicants must apply at careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.