Senior Electrical & Automation Engineer – Uptime Leader

Gilder Search Group; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client in the steel industry in Cleveland, Ohio is seeking a Senior Electrical Maintenance Engineer to improve equipment reliability, optimize control systems, and reduce downtime across the Hot Mill. The candidate will drive technical excellence, lead automation initiatives, and support a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

The role requires hands-on experience with PLC platforms, industrial drives, and motor control, plus strong knowledge of automation architectures and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field or equivalent industrial electrical experience.
• Five years of industrial electrical experience in maintenance, controls or automation.
• Hands-on proficiency with PLCs, drives, and control systems in a heavy manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of automation architectures and industrial networks.
• Ability to work in a hot, dusty industrial setting and in variable conditions.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve electrical, automation, PLC, and motor drive systems for hot mill operations.
• Serve as SME for Level 1 PLCs, control systems, regulating systems, and motor drives.
• Analyze and repair complex electrical/control issues impacting production, quality, and safety.
• Lead electrical projects including PLC installations, upgrades, and commissioning.
• Support training and knowledge transfer to maintenance personnel on electrical systems.
• Ensure documentation of drawings, PLC logic changes, and control strategies; ensure safety compliance.

Skills

PLC programming

Industrial automation

Automation architectures

Industrial networks

Motor control

Vendor management

Training personnel

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering

Associate degree + 5 years experience

Tools

GE RX7i

Versamax

Genius I/O

ABB drives

SQL databases

Network configuration

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Our client in the steel industry in Cleveland, Ohio is seeking a Senior Electrical Maintenance Engineer to improve equipment reliability, optimize control systems, and reduce downtime across the Hot Mill. The candidate will drive technical excellence, lead automation initiatives, and support a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

The role requires hands-on experience with PLC platforms, industrial drives, and motor control, plus strong knowledge of automation architectures and