Manufacturing Automation Engineer

TechDigital Group; San Angelo (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

TechDigital Group seeks an experienced Manufacturing Automation Engineer to design and integrate plant-floor control systems, bridging multiple PLC platforms with enterprise IT and MES databases. You will deploy robust OPC architectures, ensure secure data exchange, and optimize PLC logic for maximum OEE.

The role requires Siemens and Rockwell PLC expertise, Kepware configuration, and strong collaboration with MES/IT teams to deliver reliable automation solutions on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years programming/commissioning industrial PLCs in manufacturing.
• Advanced proficiency with Siemens (TIA Portal, STEP 7) and Rockwell/AB (Studio 5000, RSLogix).
• Deep knowledge of Kepware KEPServerEX & OPC UA security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and troubleshoot plant-floor control systems.
• Bridge multi-vendor PLCs with enterprise IT systems; deploy OPC architecture.
• Manage data exchanges between machinery and SQL databases using FactoryTalk tools.
• Develop and deploy HMI/SCADA interfaces (WinCC, FactoryTalk View).
• Collaborate with MES, IT, and operations to ensure data integrity.

Skills

Siemens PLC

Rockwell/AB PLC

OPC UA & Kepware

SQL & MES data

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Kepware KEPServerEX

FactoryTalk Transaction Manager

TIA Portal

RSLogix/Studio 5000

Job description

JD: Manufacturing Automation Engineer job description focuses on system integration, SCADA, and bridging the gap between shop-floor controllers and enterprise databases

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Automation Engineer to design, integrate, and troubleshoot plant-floor control systems. This role focuses on bridging multi-vendor PLCs with enterprise IT systems. You will design and deploy robust OPC architecture, manage bi-directional data flow into MES databases, and optimize PLC logic to ensure maximum OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)

Key Responsibilities

• OPC UA & Connectivity Configuration: Architect and configure reliable data pathways using Kepware OPC Server. Establish secure, high-performance OPC UA connections between shop-floor controllers and supervisory or enterprise systems.
• Database & Transaction Management: Architect and maintain bi-directional data exchanges between manufacturing machinery and corporate IT databases (e.g., MS SQL) using FactoryTalk Transaction Manager (formerly RSSql).
• PLC Programming & Troubleshooting: Program, modify, and troubleshoot industrial controllers, specifically Siemens PLCs (S7-1200/S7-1500 using TIA Portal) and Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix/CompactLogix using RSLogix 5000/Studio 5000).
• HMI/SCADA Development: Design and deploy operator interfaces and supervisory monitoring systems, utilizing platforms like Siemens WinCC and Rockwell FactoryTalk View.
• System Integration & Commissioning: Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams (MES, Operations, Quality, IT) to integrate new automated machinery. Map out tag databases, troubleshoot communication bottlenecks, and ensure data integrity across all system levels (MES)

Qualifications & Technical Skills

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or equivalent technical discipline.
• Experience: 3+ years of hands-on experience programming and commissioning industrial PLCs in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Platform Expertise:
  1. Advanced proficiency with Siemens (TIA Portal, STEP 7) and Rockwell/Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000, RSLogix) platforms.
  2. Deep working knowledge of Kepware KEPServerEX configuration and OPC UA security protocols.
  3. Hands-on experience with FactoryTalk Transaction Manager and standard relational databases (SQL).

Communication Protocols: Thorough understanding of industrial networking and communication protocols, including Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, and OPC UA