Switchboard Controls Technician

Eaton; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 59,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton is hiring a Switchboard Controls Engineer in Sumter, SC to design, program, test, and support automated control systems for switchboard applications. The role sits within the Power Systems Controls group, offering exposure to PLCs, HMIs, protective relays, and related power distribution controls.

The annual salary ranges from $59,000 to $86,000, depending on skills and experience. The position requires a technical degree or equivalent experience, with preference for engineering graduates

Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or similar experience in military training.
• Minimum 1 year of controls experience in power distribution applications or 2 years of controls experience in other applications.
• No relocation benefit; candidates within 50-mile radius of Columbia, SC or Sumter, SC considered. Active-Duty Military Service members exempt.

Responsibilities

• Develop drawings and BOMs for switchboard designs with detailed equipment applications.
• Consult with plant and field sales engineers to define equipment applications per customer specs.
• Provide sketches, mark-ups, and directions to Electrical Designers for project drawings.
• Select components and create bill of materials.
• Create, modify, test, and deploy PLC, ATC-900/DTSC-200A, and HMI software for Power Transfer applications.
• Prepare submittals, SOO, and test procedures for customers.
• Perform factory testing and debugging of switchboard control systems and troubleshoot wiring/safety circuits.
• Support field start-ups if required.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI software

Power distribution

Troubleshooting

Safety compliance

Communication

Customer relations

Education

2-year technical degree

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Visual Designer

Galileo-based HMI

PLC software

Job description

We're hiring a Switchboard Controls Engineer in Sumter, SC to design, program, test, and support automated control systems and power management systems used in critical switchboard applications.

Our Power Systems Controls (PSC) group is a full-service integrator of the necessary systems, equipment, and technologies to provide complete power systems solutions. This team of talented engineers and technicians provides single point responsibility and seamless integration, transcending all major manufacturers of PLCs, HMIs, protective relays, and power distribution controls related components.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $59000 - $86000 a year.

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What You’ll Do

• Develop a variety of complex drawings and bills-of-material based upon established switchboard designs, which provides sufficient detail to accurately convey the purchaser’s equipment application.
• Consult with plant and field sales engineers in interpreting and defining new equipment applications. Follow customers and internal specifications for project implementation.
• Provide sketches, mark-ups, and directions to Electrical Designers to develop project drawings.
• Select components and create bill of materials.
• Create, modify, test, and deploy software for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), Automatic Transfer Controllers (ATC-900, DTSC-200A), and Human Machine Interfaces (Visual Designer and Galileo based) for Automatic Power Transfer applications (Main-Tie-Main, Main-Gen, etc.).
• Prepare customer submittals, Sequence of Operation (SOO), and test procedures.
• Perform factory testing & debugging of switchboard control systems, including troubleshooting wiring and safety circuits.
• Support field start-ups if required.

Qualifications

Required (Basic) Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or similar experience in military training
• Minimum 1 year of controls experience in power distribution applications or 2 years of controls experience in other applications.
• No relocation benefit is being offered for this position. Only candidates within a 50-mile radius of Columbia, SC or Sumter, SC will be considered. Active-Duty Military Service member candidates are exempt from the geographical area limitation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution
• Knowledge of power distribution (Switchgears and Switchboards) and control systems.

Skills

• Successfully complete and maintain compliance with Eaton’s safety program and policy; This includes role-applicable portions of the EESS Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) program and any required annual re-certifications thereafter.
• Knowledge and understanding of best engineering practices for design of automation systems, power management systems, human-machine interface software, PLC programming, etc.
• Working knowledge of test equipment and diagnostic instruments for automation and power management systems.
• Knowledge of troubleshooting, test and repair techniques.
• Computer literacy. Working knowledge of all software packages relevant to successful performance of tasks.
• Knowledge of parts, part masters, bill of materials.
• Knowledge and practice of safety precautions related to working with automation and power management systems.
• Has demonstrated ability to provide service and represent company interests in developing customer relationships to assure long-term customer satisfaction.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication/presentation skills
• Experience with HMI (Human Machine Interface) software and power monitoring software packages.

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.