Lead Automation & Controls Engineer

AdvanSix; Hopewell (VA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

AdvanSix, located in Hopewell, VA, seeks a Lead Automation and Process Control Engineer to lead DCS configuration, process control enhancements, and operator interface improvements at the Hopewell site.

You will partner with operations and IT OT to tune control loops, support capital projects, and ensure adherence to manufacturing strategies while providing on-call support as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related degree with process control experience.
• 5+ years in chemical process manufacturing or related experience.
• Proven track record implementing, improving, and supporting automation and process control systems; Honeywell Experion experience preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Willingness for off-hours, on-call support via rotating schedule.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement control system configuration for Honeywell Experion and Fisher Provox environments
• Develop and implement control improvements to reduce cost, increase productivity, and enhance operator interfaces
• Troubleshoot process control issues including configuration, interlocks, and network communication
• Develop HMIs to enable efficient operator response and increase process knowledge
• Provide leadership and technical support to align control applications with manufacturing strategies
• Support capital projects in automation and process control scope
• Plan and execute short- and long-term activities for advanced control applications
• Document automation and process control standards
• Collaborate with IT OT and other engineers for maintenance of the control system
• Train process and production engineers on basic control and HMI configuration
• Ensure control software and hardware meet plant requirements
• Maintain and update technical documentation

Skills

Process control experience

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

On-call support

Self-motivation and accountability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related degree with process control experience

Tools

Honeywell Experion

Fisher Provox

Alarm managers

APC

Job description

Position Summary

The Lead Automation and Process Control Engineer provides automation and process control leadership and technical support for DCS (distributed control system) configuration and design. The Automation and Process Control Engineer will also implement and maintain add-on automation enhancements such as APC, alarm management and monitoring, control loop tuning software, and control process monitoring. This position is located at the AdvanSix Hopewell, VA site and reports through the Technical Services department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and implement control system configuration for changes and new installations in Honeywell Experion and Fisher Provox environments
• Proactively work with operations areas to develop and implement control improvements for the purposes of reducing cost, increasing productivity, mitigating/reducing safety and environmental concerns, and enhancing operator interfaces with the control system
• Troubleshooting of process control issues including configuration, interlocking, and network communication issues
• Develop and implement HMI graphics that enable efficient operator response and increase operator process knowledge
• Provide leadership and technical support for ensuring that all the control applications used in the plant are fully aligned with the manufacturing strategies. This support encompasses all BPCS and advanced applications
• Support capital project process in development of automation and process control scope
• Planning and execution of short-term and long-term activities required to effectively use advanced control applications in the manufacturing plants - includes hands-on work on selection, design, configuration, performance measurement, upgrades, troubleshooting and optimization
• Design, use, update, and maintenance of technical documentation for automation and process control standards
• Close collaboration with other automation and process control engineers and the IT OT engineers for effective implementation and maintenance of the process control system
• Train process and production engineers on basic control and HMI configuration
• Ensure that control software and hardware is up-to-date and meets plant site requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related degree with process control experience required
• 5+ years of chemical process manufacturing, or related, experience required
• Proven track record of implementing, improving, and supporting automation and process control systems, preferably including experience with Honeywell Experion
• Strong track record of process troubleshooting and problem solving
• Ability to provide off-hours, on-call support via a rotating schedule
• Good interpersonal and communication skills for developing collaborative working relationships with internal AdvanSix employees as well as external automation and process control vendors
• Possess a high level of self-motivation and accountability for deliverables

Additional Qualifications

• Command of process control theory and practice: process dynamics, functional control strategy design, loop tuning, dynamic simulation
• Knowledge of process control network architecture and experience with networking, server configuration, and virtualization a plus
• Experience with SIS and add-on process control management products like alarm managers, control loop monitoring, and APC
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certified

The salary range for this role is $118,800 to $178,200 annually.