Plant Automation & Controls Engineer (Greater Tampa Bay Area)

A Snapshot of Your Day

The Automation Engineer serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all plant control systems at the Blades & Vanes Tampa facility. This position is responsible for the design, maintenance, reliability, cybersecurity, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of manufacturing automation systems that support safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations.

The Automation Engineer will lead efforts to maximize equipment uptime, improve process capability, support capital projects, and develop plant-wide automation standards. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, and IT teams to ensure controls systems support business objectives and operational excellence. The Automation Engineer is accountable for ensuring the Blades & Vanes Tampa facility maintains safe, reliable, secure, and efficient automation systems that maximize production uptime while supporting operational excellence, quality requirements, and future manufacturing growth.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Plant Controls Ownership

• Serve as the primary technical authority for all automation and industrial control systems throughout the facility.
• Develop and maintain a site-wide controls strategy, standards, and lifecycle management plan.
• Maintain documentation including:
• Control narratives
• Network architecture diagrams
• PLC/HMI programs
• Electrical drawings
• Instrumentation databases
• Backup and disaster recovery procedures
• Establish and enforce plant automation standards for new and existing equipment.

Automation System Support

• Provide advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis for automation and controls-related equipment failures.
• Support production and maintenance teams in resolving PLC, HMI, SCADA, process instrumentation, and communication system issues.
• Lead emergency response activities for critical controls-related downtime events.
• Manage software revisions, backups, change management, and version control.

Controls and Software Engineering

• Develop, modify, and optimize PLC programs and HMI interfaces.
• Design and implement automation improvements to increase productivity, reduce downtime, and improve process stability.
• Support manufacturing data collection, reporting, and equipment integration initiatives.
• Implement error-proofing and process monitoring solutions to improve quality and reliability.

Industrial Networks and Cybersecurity

• Maintain and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, including Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, and other industrial protocols.
• Partner with IT to ensure secure integration between plant-floor systems and business networks.
• Support cybersecurity initiatives for Operational Technology (OT) environments, including:
• Access control
• Backup management
• Patch management
• Vulnerability mitigation
• Audit compliance

Maintenance and Reliability Leadership

• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for automation systems.
• Identify recurring failures and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Support reliability-centered maintenance initiatives and equipment life-cycle planning.
• Provide technical guidance to maintenance technicians and electricians.

Capital Projects and Equipment Integration

• Lead automation scope development for capital projects.
• Manage controls system specifications, vendor selection, FAT/SAT activities, and commissioning efforts.
• Ensure all new equipment meets plant automation standards and integrates seamlessly into existing systems.
• Support startup and commissioning of new production equipment and facility systems.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and execute productivity, quality, safety, and cost reduction opportunities using automation technologies.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze equipment performance data and implement solutions to improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Training and Knowledge Development

• Train maintenance technicians, engineers, and operations personnel on automation systems.
• Develop troubleshooting guides and work instructions for critical systems.
• Mentor technical personnel and help elevate plant automation competency.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related technical discipline or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting industrial automation and control systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience with PLC programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
• Experience supporting HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, and manufacturing process control systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead troubleshooting efforts during critical production outages.
• Strong understanding of electrical control systems and industrial instrumentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in aerospace, precision manufacturing, turbine, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience with:
• Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley)
• Siemens PLC platforms
• Ignition SCADA
• Wonderware
• FactoryTalk View SE/ME
• Historian systems
• Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity standards and OT network architecture.
• Project management experience supporting capital installations and equipment upgrades.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement certification.

Technical Skills

• PLC Programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, OMRON)
• HMI/SCADA Development
• Industrial Networking
• Process Instrumentation
• Motion Control Systems
• Servo and VFD Applications
• SQL Databases and Manufacturing Data Systems
• Industrial Cybersecurity
• Electrical Control Design
• Root Cause Analysis
• Reliability Engineering
• AutoCAD Electrical (preferred)

About the Team

Gas Services

Our Gas Services division offers Low-emission power generation through service and decarbonization. Zero or low emission power generation and all gas turbines under one roof, steam turbines and generators. Decarbonization opportunities through service offerings, modernization, and digitalization of the fleet.

Check out this video to learn more about our Gas Service business

What’s it like to work at Siemens Energy?

Who is Siemens Energy?

At Siemens Energy, we are more than just an energy technology company. We meet the growing energy demand across 90+ countries while ensuring our climate is protected. With more than 92,000 dedicated employees, we not only generate electricity for over 16% of the global community, but we’re also using our technology to help protect people and the environment.

Our global team is committed to making sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy a reality by pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We uphold a 150-year legacy of innovation that encourages our search for people who will support our focus on decarbonization, new technologies, and energy transformation.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Lucky for us, we are not all the same. Through diversity we generate power. We run on inclusion and our combined creative energy is fueled by over 130 nationalities. Siemens Energy celebrates character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability. We energize society, all of society, and we do not discriminate based on our differences.

Rewards

• Career growth and development opportunities
• Supportive work culture
• Company paid Health and wellness benefits
• Paid Time Off and paid holidays
• 401K savings plan with company match
• Family building benefits
• Parental leave