Sr Automation Engineer

Genuine Parts Company; Woodridge (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Genuine Parts Company is seeking a Senior Industrial Controls Engineer in Woodridge, Illinois, to lead the design and development of industrial control panels. This role involves electrical design and compliance with standards such as UL508A. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience, strong knowledge of CAD tools, and the capacity to work collaboratively across engineering and production. Occasional travel to customer sites is expected for verification and technical support.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in industrial control panel design.
• Experience with electrical CAD platforms is required.
• Strong understanding of industrial control systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of industrial control panels.
• Ensure designs meet codes and customer specifications.
• Collaborate with panel shop personnel during fabrication.

Skills

Industrial control panel design

Electrical schematics

Strong knowledge of UL508A

SCCR calculations

Collaboration across teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Industrial Controls Engineer to lead the design and development of industrial control panels and related automation systems in a panel design and build environment.

This role focuses heavily on electrical design, panel layout, component selection, UL508A compliance, and supporting fabrication and testing activities. The position includes occasional travel to customer sites for field verification, startup, commissioning, and technical support.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with hands‑on collaboration across engineering, production, and customers to deliver high‑quality, compliant control solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical & Controls Design

• Design industrial control panels in compliance with UL508A, NEC, and NFPA 79
• Develop:

• Electrical schematics
• Panel layouts
• Power distribution designs
• I/O lists and wiring diagrams
• Bills of Materials (BOMs)

• Perform load calculations, SCCR analysis, and arc flash considerations
• Select and specify components including:

• PLCs and remote I/O
• HMIs
• VFDs and motor starters
• Power supplies and protection devices

Standards & Compliance

• Ensure designs meet applicable codes and customer specifications
• Support UL inspections and maintain compliance documentation
• Maintain and improve internal electrical design standards
• Review and approve designs from junior engineers and designers

Production & Testing Support

• Collaborate with panel shop personnel during fabrication
• Provide technical clarification and redline support
• Develop and execute Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) procedures
• Troubleshoot issues during build and system testing

Onsite & Field Support (Occasional Travel)

• Support onsite installation and system startup
• Perform I/O checkout and commissioning
• Troubleshoot field wiring and integration issues
• Participate in customer design reviews and project meetings
• Provide post-installation technical support as needed

Controls Programming (As Applicable)

• Develop or modify PLC and HMI programs
• Validate control sequences and safety functions
• Support system integration with field equipment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7+ years of experience in industrial control panel design
• Strong knowledge of UL508A, NEC, NFPA 79
• Experience with electrical CAD platforms (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar)
• Experience performing SCCR calculations
• Strong understanding of industrial control systems and field integration
• Willingness to travel occasionally as project needs require

Preferred Qualifications

• UL508A MTR (Master of Record) experience
• Experience with Allen‑Bradley PLC systems
• Familiarity with safety circuit design (Category 3/4, SIL, PL ratings)
• Experience in OEM, systems integration, or custom equipment environments

Equal Employment Opportunity

GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.