Project and Automation Engineer

AAK AB; Louisville, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Health insurance

HSA contribution

401(k) match

Life & disability insurance

Employee assistance

Pet insurance

Discounts

Onsite events

Peer recognition

Job summary

AAK AB in Louisville, KY is seeking an Automation Project Engineer to lead automation projects across manufacturing operations. You will partner with operations, maintenance, and vendors to design, program, and optimize automation systems from concept through commissioning and sustained operation.

The role focuses on safety, reliability, quality, efficiency, and throughput improvements, with responsibilities spanning documentation, testing, and handoff activities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading automation projects from scope to closeout.
• Ability to design, program, configure, and support automation systems.
• Strong collaboration with operations, maintenance, engineering, and vendors.
• Proven troubleshooting skills to minimize downtime and improve performance.
• Knowledge of safety standards and cybersecurity for industrial control systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from scope through commissioning and closeout.
• Develop requirements, schedules, budgets, and implementation plans.
• Design and support PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, sensors, drives and networks.
• Troubleshoot equipment and control logic to improve performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure practical solutions.
• Prepare technical docs, test plans, and operating procedures.
• Support acceptance testing, startup, validation, and handoff activities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, policy, regulatory, and cybersecurity standards.
• Provide training and guidance to operations and maintenance staff.

Skills

Automation project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Industrial automation

Troubleshooting

Tools

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Industrial networks

Robotics

Job description

Making Better Happen

Our story goes back more than 150 years, tothe windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.

From our success in Scandinavia, we've growninto the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employingmore than 4000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make theproducts you love even better. The oils we produce go into making yourchocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it'snot just food - we work across industries to make products that are higherquality, healthier and better for the planet.

Every one of us works towards our sharedpurpose: Making Better Happen™.

Everything we do is about Making BetterHappen together.

Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build abetter future with us.

Build a better future as a Automation Project Engineer in Louisville, KY

Compensation Range: $140,000 - $165,000

Possible Bonus: 7.5%

About the role

The Automation Project Engineer is responsible for leading andsupporting automation projects that improve safety, reliability, quality,efficiency, and throughput across manufacturing and operational processes. Thisrole partners with operations, maintenance, engineering, vendors, and othercross-functional stakeholders to develop, implement, troubleshoot, and optimizeautomation systems, controls, and related technologies from concept throughcommissioning and sustained operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned automation projects from scope development through design, installation, startup, commissioning, and closeout.
• Develop project requirements, specifications, schedules, budgets, and implementation plans in alignment with site priorities and business objectives.
• Design, program, configure, and support automation and control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, sensors, instrumentation, drives, robotics, and industrial networks as applicable.
• Troubleshoot automation equipment, control logic, instrumentation, and communication issues to minimize downtime and improve system performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve process efficiency, product quality, safety, reliability, and maintainability through automation and controls improvements.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering, quality, safety, IT/OT, and external vendors to ensure automation solutions are practical, reliable, and compliant.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including control narratives, functional specifications, drawings, I/O lists, test plans, operating procedures, and training materials.
• Support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, startup, validation, and handoff activities for new or modified automation systems.
• Ensure automation projects comply with applicable safety standards, company policies, regulatory requirements, and cybersecurity expectations for industrial control systems.
• Provide technical guidance and training to operations and maintenance personnel on new and existing automation systems.
• Monitor system performance after implementation and recommend corrective actions, upgrades, or continuous improvement initiatives.

About you

Lead assigned automation projects from scope development through design, installation, startup, commissioning, and closeout.

Develop project requirements, specifications, schedules, budgets, and implementation plans in alignment with site priorities and business objectives.

Design, program, configure, and support automation and control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, sensors, instrumentation, drives, robotics, and industrial networks as applicable.

Troubleshoot automation equipment, control logic, instrumentation, and communication issues to minimize downtime and improve system performance.

Identify opportunities to improve process efficiency, product quality, safety, reliability, and maintainability through automation and controls improvements.

Collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering, quality, safety, IT/OT, and external vendors to ensure automation solutions are practical, reliable, and compliant.

Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including control narratives, functional specifications, drawings, I/O lists, test plans, operating procedures, and training materials.

Support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, startup, validation, and handoff activities for new or modified automation systems.

Ensure automation projects comply with applicable safety standards, company policies, regulatory requirements, and cybersecurity expectations for industrial control systems.

Provide technical guidance and training to operations and maintenance personnel on new and existing automation systems.

Monitor system performance after implementation and recommend corrective actions, upgrades, or continuous improvement initiatives.

In return AAK offer

• Career paths, training and development,e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you toprogress your future career
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical,dental and vision) starting date of hire
• Health Savings Account with AAK annualcontribution of $1,000-$1,500
• Wematch 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of thenext 3%
• Free Life and Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Supplemental Pet Insurance, IdentityTheft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
• Discounts on travel, amusement parks,concerts, movies, and more
• Celebrations, events, and activities onsite and supporting our communities
• Recognition incentives for service andpeer to peer recognition

About AAK

Everything AAK does is aboutMaking Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our4,000employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation,age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status,and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state orfederal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of studentsin its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.