Level 1 Controls Commissioning Engineer – Steel Manufacturing

Helion Group; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Helion Group is seeking a Level 1 controls professional to own commissioning on a greenfield steel plant. You’ll diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve control issues on PLCs and HMIs, ensuring safe, predictable operation.

You’ll lead PLC programming, integrate VFDs and sensors, perform equipment checkout, and hand off detailed controls documentation to plant teams for sustained operations.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in industrial automation and controls.
• Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting expertise.
• Experience leading commissioning or startup of complex manufacturing systems.
• Ability to diagnose across control logic, electrical systems, and field instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Own controls troubleshooting from symptom to root cause to resolution.
• Develop, review, and debug PLC programs and HMI screens.
• Integrate VFDs, motor controls, field instrumentation, and equipment interfaces into cohesive control schemes.
• Plan and execute equipment checkout, functional testing, and end-to-end commissioning activities.
• Diagnose sequence logic, permissives, interlocks, and process signals across panels and field devices.
• Partner with OEMs and system integrators to eliminate deficiencies and retire punch-list items.
• Support equipment turnover, finalize controls documentation, and transfer knowledge to plant teams for sustained operations.

Skills

Industrial automation

PLC programming

Commissioning leadership

Electrical & instrumentation diagnosis

Job description

Step into a new-build steel plant and help bring it to lifePicture your day: you arrive on the commissioning floor of a greenfield steel manufacturing facility. The line is nearly there—motors mounted, panels powered, instruments wired. You open your laptop, connect to a PLC, and watch live tags flow while you walk the equipment with maintenance, operations, OEM reps, and integrators. A permissive chain is blocking a sequence; you trace the interlock, tweak logic, coordinate a sensor calibration, and the system advances. Another punch-list item closed, one step closer to reliable production.What you’ll driveOwn controls troubleshooting from symptom to root cause to resolution, keeping commissioning on schedule.Develop, review, and debug PLC programs and HMI screens to ensure safe, predictable operation.Integrate VFDs, motor controls, field instrumentation, and equipment interfaces into cohesive control schemes.Plan and execute equipment checkout, functional testing, and end-to-end commissioning activities.Diagnose sequence logic, permissives, interlocks, and process signals across panels and field devices.Partner with OEMs and system integrators to eliminate deficiencies and retire punch-list items.Support equipment turnover, finalize controls documentation, and transfer knowledge to plant teams for sustained operations.What you bringDeep Level 1 industrial automation and controls foundation.Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting expertise.Proven experience leading commissioning or startup of complex manufacturing systems.Ability to diagnose across control logic, electrical systems, and field instrumentation.Confidence to work independently while aligning technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams.Background in steel mills or similarly heavy industrial environments is a strong plus.Why this roleThis role is ideal for a Level 1 controls professional who owns outcomes in the field, makes sound technical calls, and guides equipment from initial startup to dependable, steady-state operation.