Senior Automation Engineer - ELYSIS

Alcoa of Australia Ltd; New Kensington (Westmoreland County); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in the aluminum industry as a Senior Automation Engineer, focusing on innovative carbon-free aluminum production. You will lead automation projects, collaborate with global teams, and enhance manufacturing processes. This hybrid role offers the chance to work at the forefront of technology while contributing to a sustainable future.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in hands-on industrial control system design.
• Proficient in common industrial control system programming languages.

Responsibilities

• Lead the industrialization of automation processes for ELYSIS electrodes.
• Manage projects with engineering firms and suppliers.
• Design, program, and evaluate new process control algorithms.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Ladder logic

Structured text

Manufacturing Execution Systems

Job description

This Policy applies to the users of the Alcoa Corporation Website including any local versions of the Website that Alcoa Corporation owns and operates.

Senior Automation Engineer - ELYSIS page is loaded

Senior Automation Engineer - ELYSIS

Apply locations United States, PA, New Kensington time type Full time posted on Posted 10 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: June 27, 2025 (30+ days left to apply) job requisition id Req-31688

Shape Your World

At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper, world-shaper.

Senior Automation Engineer - ELYSIS

A New Era for the Aluminum Industry – ELYSIS

Carbon Free Aluminum

The ELYSIS technology is the greatest breakthrough in the aluminum industry since its beginnings in 1886. Work is underway now to further develop this revolutionary new way to produce aluminum, eliminating carbon dioxide and all other greenhouse gas emissions from the traditional smelting process.

The ELYSIS process eliminates the use of carbon anodes, replacing those with proprietary materials. It is the first industrial process that emitsoxygen as its by-product and has the potential to transform an entire industry.

In 2018, two international aluminum producers, Alcoa and Rio Tinto, came together to form the ELYSIS joint venture with the provincial government of Quebec. With support from the Canadian Government and Apple, the technology is progressing and is currently being designed to support the construction of new smelters or retrofits.

ELYSIS is headquartered in Montreal, with Technology Research & Development locations in Alma, Quebec, (Canada), in Jonquiere, Quebec, (Canada), in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, (United States), and in France.

Commercial quality metal produced by ELYSIS during the ongoing R&D process is already being used by Apple in a variety of products (The 16-inch MacBook Pro and the iPhone SE); Ab InBEV (cans); Audi (e-tron GT wheels produced by the RONAL Group), and Corona (cans).

Join the ELYSIS team in this exciting work!

About the location

The ELYSIS US Research & Development facility is located in the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.Located near Pittsburgh, the carbon-free smelting process was first developed at ATC, where a dedicated team is working to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future.

About the Job

We are seeking a talented and passionate Senior Automation engineer to join the ELYSIS Automation Team. This person will play a pivotal role in the development of systems that manufacture the electrodes at the core of the ELYSIS aluminum smelting technology.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the industrialization of the automation aspects of the processes involved in manufacturing ELYSIS electrodes
• Manage projects involving engineering firms, equipment suppliers, system integrators, and installers to ensure equipment is commissioned and operational as designed
• Write functional descriptions detailing the automation systems requirements and distribute to suppliers
• Collaborate with the global ELYSIS team located in France and Canada
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and other automation engineers in ELYSIS design teams to ensure equipment integrates seamlessly with the plant and other process equipment
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests and Site Acceptance Tests in the US, Canada, and Europe to ensure systems are developed and installed in line with the original specifications
• Proactively seek opportunities for innovation and improvement in control system designs, processes, and methodologies
• Oversee change management of all changes from R&D development through industrial equipment implementation
• Design, program, test, and evaluate new process control algorithms and automation technologies for control of the processes, material handling, and quality control

Mobility

ELYSIS is a global company with operations in Canada, France, and the United States.

Hybrid position based in New Kensington, PA (3 days on-site) + 10% travel requirements (USA, Canada, France).

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent from an ABET accredited university
• Minimum 7 years in hands-on industrial control system design, installation, and commissioning, including direct experience with robotics and machine vision
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team comprised of diverse expertise and backgrounds
• Ability to adapt to changing project requirements and priorities in a dynamic engineering environment
• Proficient in common industrial control system programming languages such as ladder logic and structured text
• Strong expertise in Ethernet/IP and Modbus communication protocols
• Proven ability to write clear and concise functional specifications
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) is a plus

Be Part of an Unprecedented Partnership

At ELYSIS we are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to success of the unprecedented partnership that ELYSIS is. We treat each other respectfully, fairly, compassionately and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

At ELYSIS, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, the LGBTQIA2 community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

ELYSIS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

About the Location

Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process– a revolution to the aluminum industry!

We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress.Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.

If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at [e-mail].

This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!

Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.

About Us

Join us and become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. We treat all people with dignity and we believe in inclusion, diversity and enabling all employees to grow and develop their careers with us, where they can pursue their passions. Discover the possibilities a career with Alcoa can have for you.

We also invite you to create an automated personalized Job Alert. It’s easy to do, new open jobs will automatically come to you!

Press the “Sign In” button at the top right of this page and the log in screen will appear. If you have not already created an account, please do so now. It's easy. At the bottom right it will say “Create Account”. Simply click on that, submit your email address and a password. You will receive an email to validate your request. Once that is done when you log in you will see a tab at the top right that says “Job Alerts”. Click on that tab and check all your job preferences. All relevant open Alcoa jobs will come to you via email automatically as soon as they are live. How great is that? In addition, we will update you via email on a regular basis about what is going on at Alcoa based upon your interests!