Manufacturing Electrical Engineer

Insteel Industries; Mount Airy (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off including holidays and 2

Excellent benefits including medical,

401(k) with match

Stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement assistance

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Company paid life/short-term and long‑

Job summary

Insteel Industries in Mount Airy, NC, is seeking a Manufacturing Electrical Engineer to design, install, and optimize electrical systems for production lines. You will lead automation efforts, fault analysis, and project execution with cross‑functional teams.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, strong PLC experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), and knowledge of NFPA 70E safety standards. This job offers relocation assistance and a travel‑heavy schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial automation, or plant engineering preferred.
• Certifications in PLCs, industrial safety, or maintenance reliability are beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical systems for manufacturing equipment and production lines.
• Support automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, and robotics.
• Develop and update electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for equipment failures and implement long‑term corrective actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Assist in commissioning new machines, upgrades, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with electrical codes, safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Manage electrical components inventory and support procurement of parts.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams (mechanical, quality, operations) on manufacturing projects.

Skills

Industrial electrical systems

PLC programming

VFDs and servos

Electrical schematics

Safety standards knowledge

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Manufacturing or plant engineering experience

PLC certifications (optional)

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Job description

Position Snapshot

The Manufacturing Electrical Engineer supports the design, installation, optimization, and maintenance of electrical systems used in production environments. The role ensures equipment reliability, improves manufacturing efficiency, and maintains compliance with safety and quality standards.

This position requires 60% - 70% travel to Insteel Wire Products manufacturing facilities in Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, with frequent air travel. To ensure timely plant support, the ideal candidate will reside near an existing Insteel facility; relocation assistance may be available for a highly qualified candidate who meets all role requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical systems for manufacturing equipment and production lines.
• Support automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, and robotics.
• Develop and update electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for equipment failures and implement long‑term corrective actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Assist in commissioning new machines, upgrades, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with electrical codes, safety regulations, and industry standards.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Manage electrical components inventory and support procurement of parts.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams (mechanical, quality, operations) on manufacturing projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of industrial electrical systems, control circuits, and power distribution.
• Experience with PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, etc.) and automation troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with VFDs, servo systems, industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profibus), and instrumentation.
• Ability to read and create electrical schematics and panel layouts.
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA 70E, OSHA, and relevant manufacturing safety standards.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project‑management abilities.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills in a fast‑paced production environment.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial automation, or plant engineering preferred.
• Certifications in PLCs, industrial safety, or maintenance reliability are beneficial.

For your hard work, you receive:

• Opportunity for professional growth
• Paid time off including holidays and vacation
• Excellent benefits to include medical, dental, vision, company paid life/short-term disability/long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings account (HSA), 401(k) with match, company paid tele-health, stock purchase plan, tuition reimbursement assistance, and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

These duties may be modified or changed at any time at the sole discretion of management either orally or in writing. The above statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

INSTEEL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to consider applicants residing in locations outside the US requiring Visa sponsorship at this time.

About the Company:

Insteel Industries is the nation’s largest manufacturer of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction, including prestressed concrete strand and welded wire reinforcement such as engineered structural mesh and concrete pipe reinforcement. Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Mount Airy, NC, Insteel operates 11 manufacturing plants across the U.S. and has a dedicated engineering services division. As a publicly traded company, our goal is to be the supplier of choice by delivering superior value to our customers. Learn more at insteel.com/careers.