Automation Controls Engineer

About Prysmian

Prysmian is the world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. Each year, the company manufactures thousands of miles of underground and submarine cables and systems for power transmission and distribution, as well as medium-low voltage cables for the construction and infrastructure sectors. We also produce a comprehensive range of optical fibers, copper cables and connectivity for voice, video, and data transmission for the telecommunication sector.

We are 30,000 employees, across 50+ countries. Everyone at Prysmian has the potential to make their mark; because whatever you do, wherever you are based, you will be part of a company that is helping transform the world around us.

Work Location: Rocky Mount, NC

Work Schedule: weekday, day shift

Position Summary

Prysmian is seeking a Manufacturing Automation & Controls Engineer to provide technical leadership for the modernization, standardization, and long-term sustainability of manufacturing control systems supporting cable manufacturing operations in Rocky Mount. This role serves as the subject matter expert for machine controls, helping define what good looks like, establish standards, and execute a long-term roadmap that reduces obsolescence, improves reliability, and increases project execution capability. The successful candidate will combine strong electrical and controls fundamentals with the practical judgment needed to evaluate equipment, guide upgrades, mentor others, and partner with internal teams and external integrators.

Why This Role Matters

This role is central to ensuring the long-term viability of our manufacturing assets. The engineer will help establish standards, reduce technical debt, improve execution speed, and create a sustainable path for modernizing equipment one project at a time. This is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a manufacturing operation by helping define standards, modernize aging equipment, and build a sustainable automation strategy for the future.

Responsibilities:

• Lead controls modernization projects involving PLCs, drives, HMIs, instrumentation, and machine control systems.
• Develop and maintain a roadmap for upgrading obsolete control systems and reducing technical risk.
• Establish standards for controls hardware, software, documentation, backups, naming conventions, and change management.
• Serve as the technical owner and final escalation point for complex controls-related issues.
• Define automation requirements, review designs, and develop scopes of work for contractors and system integrators.
• Ensure projects are architected for safety, maintainability, scalability, and long-term support.
• Establish standards for controls documentation, program backups, file structure, and revision management, while guiding the organization toward long-term adoption.
• Partner with maintenance personnel during projects and troubleshooting activities to transfer knowledge and strengthen internal capability.
• Support machine connectivity, industrial communications, and Ignition integration efforts as needed.
• Identify electrical safety risks and recommend improvements to equipment, policies, and work practices.
• Support equipment evaluations, acquisitions, and controls upgrade strategies for used or existing equipment.

What Success Looks Like

• Controls systems are increasingly standardized across facilities.
• Fewer production assets rely on obsolete hardware or unsupported platforms.
• Equipment documentation, program backups, and revision control are organized and accessible.
• Projects move faster because technical direction, architecture, and scope are defined up front.
• The organization is less dependent on external resources for routine controls work.
• There is a clear and actionable modernization roadmap with visible progress year over year.
• Manufacturing processes operate with improved stability, reduced variation, and greater capability due to well-designed and maintained control systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience supporting and upgrading industrial control systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, drives, HMIs, industrial communications, and machine control systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control panel drawings, and machine documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and engineering judgment.
• Ability to lead technical discussions and influence decisions across multiple functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on familiarity with Allen-Bradley platforms and Studio 5000.
• Background planning or executing controls migrations and modernization projects.
• Proven ability to work with system integrators and manage technical project scope.
• Knowledge of industrial networking, SCADA, historians, or Ignition.
• Strong exposure to supporting and modernizing legacy manufacturing equipment is highly desirable.

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Job Offer Fraud Alert

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Prysmian, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, aims to attract and recruit individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills, and abilities. We strongly believe that diversity brings significant value at all levels of the organization, increasing the possibility of capturing market opportunities and maximizing value for our customers and stakeholders. With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) as part of our Social Ambition 2030 and a strategic pillar of our Company culture, Prysmian is committed to the development of an organization that prioritizes talent, where people feel respected, included, and free to fully express their potential just as they are.


All Managers and HRs in Prysmian are responsible for ensuring DE&I policies are respected during the recruiting process, as well as recognizing and mitigating unconscious biases that must not influence our selection processes. All persons will be considered for employment without regard to their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, origin, citizenship status, socio-economic status, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, military service or veteran status, pregnancy, parental leave, medical conditions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Prysmian will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation for any disclosed physical or neurological condition or disability of a qualified applicant unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

Visit our DE&I Page to learn more about Prysmian's commitments.

Your application data will be treated according to our Data Protection Policy. If you believe you require assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact us at [email protected].