Principal Industrial Power & Automation Engineer

Helion Group; Apple Grove (WV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Helion Group in Apple Grove, West Virginia, seeks a senior electrical engineer to guide a greenfield steel mill from construction to production, owning the details and coordinating parties. You will drive installation, commissioning, startup, and support for high/low voltage distribution, substations, MCCs, motors, and automation.

This on-site role requires 10+ years in heavy industry, strong leadership, and a hands-on approach to field troubleshooting, drawings interpretation, and vendor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in steel/metals/manufacturing or heavy industry.
• Strong experience with high/low voltage power distribution.
• Hands-on with MCCs, motors, VFDs, PLCs, instrumentation, and automation.
• Ability to interpret drawings, schematics, and vendor documents.
• Experience coordinating contractors and integrators.
• Independent field decision-maker with strong communication and leadership.
• On-site availability in Apple Grove, WV.
• Not a strictly PLC programming position.

Responsibilities

• Drive installation support, testing, commissioning, and startup of electrical and production assets.
• Provide technical oversight for HV/LV distribution: substations, switchgear, transformers, MCCs, motors.
• Troubleshoot electrical, controls, instrumentation, and integration issues during commissioning.
• Review and validate single-lines, schematics, equipment specs, cable schedules, and vendor packages.
• Coordinate contractors, OEMs, vendors, and systems integrators against scope, schedule, and standards.
• Support PLC-based equipment, VFDs, motor controls, instrumentation, and Level 1 automation.
• Develop punch lists, track issues, maintain documentation, and close out systems for acceptance.
• Engage operations and maintenance to ensure safe, reliable, maintainable systems.

Skills

Power distribution

Industrial automation

Field troubleshooting

Coordination leadership

Project management

Drawings & specs review

Vendor coordination

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

MCCs

Motors

VFDs

PLCs

Instrumentation

Job description

Are you the person everyone calls when it’s time to energize?If your sweet spot is where heavy industrial power meets controls and automation, this role on a new greenfield steel mill in Apple Grove, West Virginia is for you. You’ll guide a site transitioning from construction to commissioning to production—owning the details, coordinating the players, and getting systems started safely and on time.What you’ll doDrive installation support, testing, commissioning, and startup of electrical and production assets.Provide technical oversight for high/low voltage distribution: substations, switchgear, transformers, MCCs, and motors.Troubleshoot electrical, controls, instrumentation, and integration issues during commissioning.Review and validate single-lines, schematics, equipment specs, cable schedules, and vendor packages.Coordinate contractors, OEMs, vendors, and systems integrators against scope, schedule, and standards.Support PLC-based equipment, VFDs, motor controls, instrumentation, and Level 1 automation.Verify installations conform to drawings, technical specifications, codes, and site standards.Execute checkout, loop checks, functional testing, energization, startup, and turnover.Surface conflicts early and implement practical field fixes to keep progress moving.Develop punch lists, track issues, maintain documentation, and close out systems for acceptance.Engage operations and maintenance to ensure safe, reliable, maintainable systems.Coach early-career engineers and promote safe work practices across activities.What you bringBS in Electrical Engineering (or related).10+ years in steel/metals/manufacturing or similar heavy-industry environments.Robust experience with industrial power distribution (high and low voltage).Hands-on with MCCs, motors, VFDs, motor controls, PLCs, instrumentation, and automation.Background in installation support, commissioning, startup, and field troubleshooting.Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, schematics, and vendor documents.History of coordinating contractors, OEMs, consultants, and integrators.Independent field decision-maker with strong communication and leadership skills.Willing to work on-site in Apple Grove, West Virginia.Good to knowThis is not a strictly PLC programming position—breadth across power, controls, automation, project execution, and commissioning is essential.Who thrives hereEngineers who can switch from a drawing review to a motor lineup checkout without missing a beat—keeping safety, schedule, quality, and reliability in view—will excel and become trusted technical resources from installation through startup and turnover.Core proficienciesProject ManagementIndustrial Electrical Experience