Automation & Controls Engineer - Food & Beverage

Position Overview

The Automation & Controls Engineer will be responsible for delivering automation and controls engineering solutions on projects ranging from small system upgrades to large-scale EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) initiatives. Work spans all phases of executionfront-end engineering, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and startup. Assignments may include stand-alone controls projects or full EPC automation and controls efforts in industries such as food and beverage, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, aerospace, and general manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with company and site safety standards.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams including engineers, specialists, designers, and project managers.

Develop and implement software deliverables such as PLC / HMI programming, Batch, MES, servers, and virtualization.

Lead commissioning and startup of automation systems.

Prepare controls design documents including I / O lists, control narratives, hardware designs, layouts, and installation details.

Create electrical design deliverables for 480VAC and below, including installation drawings and conductor schedules.

Specify control panels and equipment, oversee vendor progress, and lead Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).

Apply process instrumentation knowledge (temperature, pressure, flow, level, analyzers, valves) to select appropriate technologies.

Review P&IDs with process engineers to define project controls scope.

Perform calculations, design verification, studies, and technical reports.

Coordinate deliverables with offsite design offices and track progress.

Conduct quality reviews of design submittals to ensure compliance with standards and codes.

Support construction teams on contracts and field execution.

Monitor budgets and progress of controls deliverables.

Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and vendors.

Mentor and guide less experienced team members.

Support proposals, estimates, and development of department standards.

Assist with field-related installation issues, testing, inspections, and commissioning activities.

Travel to project sites as needed (approximately 30%).

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program; FE exam completion; and 3+ years of electrical engineering experience (EPC and Automation & Controls preferred).

Masters in Electrical Engineering with 4+ years experience (preferred).

Professional Engineer (PE) license (preferred).

Must have or be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).

Strong knowledge of engineering techniques and standards (ANSI, IEEE, NFPA, ISA, IEC, UL, ISO13849, ISA / IEC 61511).

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and engineering tools.

Strong communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Experience leading project designs, delegating work, and reviewing detailed engineering deliverables.

Ability to mentor team members, coordinate workloads, and travel as required.

Preferred Experience

Broad knowledge of automation and control systems : PLC, SCADA, SIS, BMS, DCS.

Hands-on experience with Rockwell and Siemens platforms (GE, Modicon, Opto22, Mitsubishi, Triconex a plus).

Familiarity with SCADA tools (FactoryTalk, Wonderware, Ignition).

Experience with MES platforms (PTC ThingWorx, Ignition / Sepasoft, Parsec TrakSYS).

Knowledge of PlantPAX, PackML, and tools such as SISTEMA, CCW, IAB, BatchSIM, and PlantSIM.

Experience with machine safety risk assessments (ISO13849 compliance).

Process safety and SIF / SIS design compliance (ISA / IEC 61511).