Plant Automation Engineer, SME

Price Industries

Suwanee (GA)

On-site

USD 85,000 - 120,000

Full time

25 hours ago

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Job summary

Price Industries is seeking a Corporate Automation Engineer to serve as a subject matter expert supporting plant-driven automation projects across HVAC component manufacturing operations. This role collaborates with plant Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, IT, and external integrators to ensure automation solutions are well-defined, safe, maintainable, and successfully transitioned into production.

The position emphasizes hands-on support through design, build, FAT/SAT, commissioning,

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automation, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field; equivalent practical experience considered.
3+ years of experience supporting automation, controls, manufacturing engineering, maintenance engineering, or technical project implementation in an industrial environment.
Working knowledge of industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, actuators, machine controls, industrial networks, and equipment integration concepts.
Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, startup, or process improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to work with plant teams to translate operational problems into clear automation requirements, practical concepts, and defined implementation needs.
Experience interacting with integrators, OEMs, contractors, or technical vendors during equipment specification, build, installation, or startup activities.
Strong communication, documentation, and follow-through skills with the ability to support multiple plant stakeholders without direct authority.

Responsibilities

Automation SME support: Serve as a corporate technical resource for plant teams evaluating, defining, and implementing automation opportunities in HVAC component manufacturing environments.
Plant-driven project support: Work directly with plant Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations teams to understand production needs, define automation concepts, document requirements, and support internal alignment before projects move into execution.
Proof of concept and project definition: Assist with feasibility reviews, process observations, concept layouts, preliminary scope development, equipment requirements, risk identification, and estimated benefits for potential automation projects.
Integrator and OEM coordination: Support plants in working with external integrators and equipment suppliers by helping review concepts, specifications, proposals, drawings, schedules, controls architecture, and technical assumptions.
Project life cycle technical support: Provide guidance through design, build, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, startup, validation, troubleshooting, and hand-off while plant leadership or assigned project managers retain project ownership.
Controls, data, and OT readiness: Partner with plant teams and IT/OT resources to help ensure automation projects consider PLC/HMI requirements, industrial networking, data collection, cybersecurity expectations, access needs, backups, and long-term supportability.
Safety, reliability, and maintainability: Help plants evaluate machine safety, guarding, interlocks, maintenance access, spare parts, documentation, training needs, and operational readiness before production release.
Standards and continuous improvement: Capture lessons learned, support development of practical automation standards/templates, share best practices across plants, and identify opportunities to improve automation project consistency and sustainment.
Technology awareness: Stay current on applicable automation technologies, including robotics, machine vision, material handling, sensing, controls, and data-enabled manufacturing tools that may apply to Price Industries operations.