Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing EngineerAmerican Wood Fibers (AWF) is a leading manufacturer of consumer and industrial wood-based products serving pet, agricultural, home-heating, and industrial markets. With 350+ employees across 11 locations and over $100M in annual revenue. We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support our continuous-process operations. This is a fully onsite position and requires regular in-person attendance. Candidates MUST currently reside within a commutable distance of Circleville, OH; Laurinburg, NC; or Marion, VA.Overall ObjectiveDesign, maintain, and optimize automated control systems to improve equipment reliability, throughput, product consistency, energy efficiency, and dust-hazard mitigation.Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:Automation & ControlsDesign, program, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for shavings lines, pellet mills, wood flour systems, conveyors, dryers, and packaging equipment.Develop closed-loop control strategies for moisture, feed rates, airflow, temperatures, and pellet mill load.Support PLC platforms including Rockwell, Siemens, and Schneider Electric.Develop operator-friendly HMI screens with clear alarms and diagnostics.Troubleshooting & OptimizationTroubleshoot automation, electrical, and instrumentation issues in dusty, continuous manufacturing environments.Support commissioning, startup, and optimization of new or modified production lines.Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance to reduce downtime and improve reliability.Support production data collection and reporting for continuous improvement.Safety & ComplianceEnsure compliance with OSHA, NFPA 70/79, and NFPA 652/654 combustible dust standards.Implement and maintain safety-rated control systems, including E-stops and interlocks.Support dust collection, fire detection, and explosion protection improvements.Projects & DocumentationParticipate in capital projects including equipment upgrades, dryer retrofits, and new line installations.Maintain accurate electrical schematics, PLC programs, and automation documentation.Train operators and maintenance personnel on automated systems.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering (or equivalent experience).3+ years of automation or controls engineering experience, preferably in wood products, pellet manufacturing, or bulk solids processing.Hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and industrial control systems.Strong troubleshooting skills in continuous-process environments.PreferredExperience with pellet mills, hammermills, grinders, dryers, and pneumatic conveying.Knowledge of moisture measurement technologies (NIR, microwave, RF).Familiarity with dust collection, fire detection, and explosion protection systems.Capital project and commissioning experience.Benefits401(k) matchingDental insuranceEmployee assistance programEmployee discountFlexible spending accountHealth insuranceHealth savings accountLife insurancePaid time offReferral programTuition reimbursementVision insuranceWork SettingIndustrial manufacturing environment with exposure to dust, noise, and heavy equipment.Occasional off-shift or weekend support during startups or outages.50% travel possibleFor consideration…Due to the nature of our business, American Wood Fibers requires a tobacco and smoke-free environment. We offer a competitive package to include health, dental, vision and life insurance, plus profit bonus, paid time off and matching 401(k). For more company information, please visit our web site AWF is an EEO employer.