Manufacturing Controls Engineer

Timken; Tennessee; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Timken is seeking a Senior/Principal Process Engineer – NA Rail Services to lead electrical and automation initiatives across manufacturing and bearing reconditioning. You will champion safety, quality, and reliability, directing projects from concept to commissioning and optimizing production through advanced control systems.

Applicants should have strong expertise in PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, robotics, and data-driven improvements, plus experience with SAP/PLM and industrial networking.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical/automation engineering or related field required.
• Experience applying electrical engineering principles in manufacturing settings.
• Proficiency with PLC programming and HMI development.
• Experience with VFDs, servo systems, and industrial controls.
• Ability to read and create electrical schematics and technical drawings.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety, quality, and compliance initiatives for electrical systems.
• Design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC, HMI, SCADA and motion systems.
• Lead capital projects from concept through startup and handoff.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality and suppliers to deliver results.
• Develop electrical standards, BOMs, drawings, and engineering records.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Electrical schematics

Automation systems

PLC/SCADA integration

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering technology or related

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Rockwell Automation

SCADA

AutoCAD Electrical

SAP/PLM systems

FactoryTalk View

Job description

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Your Career Begins at Timken
If you're ready for a challenging career that provides you with the ability to advance personally and professionally, look to Timken. Our associates make the world more productive by improving the efficiency and reliability of the machinery that keeps industry in motion.

Job Title: Senior/ Principal Process Engineer – NA Rail Services

Overall Purpose:

The Process Engineer – Automation & Controls is responsible for improving safety, quality, productivity, equipment reliability, and profitability within Timken's North America Rail Services manufacturing and bearing reconditioning operations. This role serves as the facility's technical lead for electrical systems, controls, automation, data collection, and equipment optimization.

The position leads projects from concept through implementation, including scope development, capital planning, equipment specification, commissioning, training, troubleshooting, and documentation. The Process Engineer applies electrical engineering principles and automation technologies to improve manufacturing performance and support highly automated production operations.

The successful candidate will possess strong technical expertise in industrial controls, PLCs, HMIs, automation systems, motion control, and manufacturing processes, while effectively partnering with operations, maintenance, quality, and external suppliers to deliver sustainable business results.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Lead initiatives that improve electrical safety, machine safeguarding, and risk reduction.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and applicable electrical standards.
• Support incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Maintain compliance with lockout/tagout and machine safety programs.

Process Improvement & Manufacturing Support

• Improve throughput, quality, equipment uptime, and operating efficiency through process optimization and automation.
• Analyze equipment and process data to identify and implement performance improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement activities utilizing Lean, root cause analysis, and reliability methodologies.
• Support plant productivity, capacity, cost reduction, and operational excellence initiatives.

Controls & Automation Engineering

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC, HMI, SCADA, motion control, and industrial network systems.
• Integrate and optimize robotics, machine vision, sensors, drives, and automated equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve controls-related issues involving PLCs, VFDs, servo systems, CNC equipment, and inspection systems.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, standards, bills of material, and technical documentation.

Capital Projects

• Lead capital and improvement projects from conception through startup and operational handoff.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, technical specifications, and appropriation requests.
• Coordinate contractors, suppliers, maintenance, and operations resources throughout execution.
• Deliver projects that meet safety, quality, schedule, and cost objectives.

Reliability & Technical Leadership

• Improve equipment reliability through preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered engineering practices.
• Conduct failure analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Establish electrical and controls standards that improve equipment performance and maintainability.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting support and technical training to maintenance and production personnel.
• Maintain electrical drawings, schematics, operating procedures, and engineering records.
• Support standardization and deployment of best practices across North America Rail Services operations.
• Utilize SAP, PLM, and related systems to manage engineering documentation and project records.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Experience applying electrical engineering principles in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience troubleshooting industrial electrical and automated manufacturing systems.
• Proficiency with PLC programming and HMI development.
• Experience with VFDs, servo systems, and industrial controls.
• Ability to read and create electrical schematics and technical drawings.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and team collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six or more years of manufacturing, controls, automation, or electrical engineering experience.
• Experience in bearing manufacturing, reconditioning, assembly, inspection, or related industrial environments.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, FactoryTalk View, and Rockwell Automation platforms.
• Experience with SCADA systems, manufacturing data collection, robotics, and machine vision.
• Experience troubleshooting CNC equipment, automated gauging, and inspection systems.
• Experience with AutoCAD Electrical.
• Knowledge of SAP and capital project execution.
• PLC, HMI & SCADA Systems
• Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation
• Servo & Motion Control
• Variable Frequency Drives
• Robotics & Machine Vision
• Electrical Design & AutoCAD Electrical
• Machine Safety & Risk Assessment
• Root Cause Analysis & Reliability Engineering
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Capital Project Management
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• SAP/PLM Systems
• Technical Documentation & Training

Physical Requirements:

• May require prolonged periods of standing/walking
• Vision: Near/Distance/Color
• Manual dexterity to operate office equipment and hand tools
• Participation in hearing conversation program as required
• Operates powered equipment
• Periodic travel

Environmental Conditions: Frequent impact noise, seasonal heat.

Protective Clothing and Personal Devices: Safety glasses, safety shoes, gloves, hearing protection

All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Timken is a global technology leader in engineered bearings and industrial motion. Our expanding portfolio of next-generation solutions helps customers around the world improve efficiency, solve their toughest challenges, and push the boundaries of performance. We employ 19,000 people globally, operate from 45 countries, and posted $4.6 billion in sales in 2025.
We have been recognized as one of America's Most Responsible Companies 6x by Newsweek and one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® 15x by Ethisphere.

Why Choose Timken?

• Over a century of knowledge and innovation
  
• A culture of top performance
  
• Products that contribute to a sustainable world
  
• A conviction to improve communities around us
  
• Competitive salary and benefits
  

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