Electrical and Automation Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Electrical and Automation Engineer 
Location: Mojave, California 
Near Cities: Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, California 
Job Grade: 21 
Pacific Steel Group is a leading independent reinforcing steel fabricator and placer with 
offices throughout the Western United States. Founded in 2014 by industry veterans, PSG 
brings the expertise and experience of a large fabricator/installer with unparalleled 
independence, flexibility, and responsiveness. Today, Pacific Steel Group is one of the 
largest reinforcing steel fabricators and placers in the United States with more than 1,500 
employees. 
We are recruiting an Electrical and Automation Engineer to support the design, 
construction, and commissioning of the Mojave Micro Mill, and to transition into a key role 
supporting plant operations after startup. This greenfield facility integrates advanced 
automation, robotics, and modern power and energy systems to enable safe, efficient, and 
low-emission steel production. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute from 
project phase through full-scale operations, shaping the performance and reliability of a 
next-generation steel plant. 
Job Summary 
The Electrical and Automation Engineer will support the design, construction, and 
commissioning of the Mojave Micro Mill and will transition into a key operational role 
responsible for the performance, reliability, and continuous improvement of all electrical 
and automation systems across the Meltshop, Rolling Mill, and auxiliary systems. 
Following plant startup, this role will be accountable for electrical system reliability, 
automation performance, troubleshooting, and optimization of plant operations, ensuring 
high equipment availability and process stability. 
1. Steel Plant Design & Construction Phase 
• Participate and coordinate the electrical design strategy for the Meltshop, Rolling Mill, 
and auxiliary systems, ensuring alignment with production and operational objectives. 
• Collaborate with engineering teams and OEM vendors to develop electrical and 
automation solutions tailored to our steel manufacturing processes. 
• Oversee the selection and specification of electrical equipment, including power 
distribution systems, MCCs, drives, and field instrumentation. 
• Coordinate integration of Water Treatment, Fume Treatment, and other auxiliary 
systems. 
• Support design, installation, and commissioning of the plant electrical substation and 
power distribution infrastructure. 
• Support integration of renewable energy systems and interface with plant electrical 
distribution, ensuring stability and efficiency. 
• Provide technical oversight during installation, ensuring compliance with local codes, 
safety requirements, and constructability best practices. 
2. Automation & Control Systems 
• Support the design, programming, and commissioning of automation systems including 
PLCs, HMI/SCADA, drives, and robotic systems. 
• Collaborate with automation and robotics specialists to integrate autonomous and 
robotic equipment into steel production processes. 
• Ensure reliable communication between control systems and field equipment. 
• Support integration between Level 1 automation (PLC/Drives) and Level 2 systems to 
ensure proper process control, data flow, and reporting. 
• Work with industrial communication networks (e.g.,  Profinet) to ensure robust and 
secure system architecture. 
• Contribute to automation strategies that improve safety, reduce manual intervention, 
and support 'no-people-on-the-floor' initiatives. 
3. Commissioning & Startup 
• Support commissioning activities including system testing, troubleshooting, and 
performance validation. 
• Coordinate with OEMs, contractors, and internal teams during startup activities. 
• Participate in development of commissioning procedures, functional testing, and system 
acceptance criteria. 
• Provide hands-on troubleshooting support during startup to stabilize operations and 
achieve production targets. 
4. Operations, Reliability & Continuous Improvement (Post-Startup) 
• Own electrical and automation system performance, ensuring high equipment 
availability and reliability. 
• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance strategies in 
collaboration with Maintenance teams. 
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) of electrical and automation failures and implement 
corrective actions. 
• Support CMMS implementation and ensure accurate asset data, maintenance plans, and 
failure tracking. 
• Optimize control systems, process parameters, and automation logic to improve 
productivity, yield, and process stability. 
• Support Level 2 systems and integration with MES/ERP platforms for production data 
and reporting. 
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and debottlenecking initiatives. 
• Provide ongoing technical support to Operations during production, including 
troubleshooting and system optimization. 
5. Power Systems & Energy Management 
• Monitor and optimize plant electrical distribution, including load balancing, power 
quality, and system efficiency. 
• Support management of power factor, harmonics, and flicker in coordination with utility 
providers. 
• Assist in coordination with utility and support integration of renewable energy sources. 
6. Project Management & Leadership 
• Support planning and execution of electrical and automation project activities. 
• Coordinate contractors, technicians, and OEM representatives during installation and 
commissioning. 
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to electrical and automation technicians. 
• Support training and development of operations and maintenance personnel on 
electrical and automation systems. 
7. Safety & Compliance 
• Promote and enforce safety standards and regulatory compliance in all activities. 
• Ensure compliance with electrical codes and industrial safety standards. 
• Support safe integration and operation of advanced automation and robotic systems in 
heavy industrial environments. 
Qualifications 
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field. 
• 5–10 years of experience preferred (3–7 minimum acceptable) in electrical and 
automation engineering within heavy industrial environments. 
• Experience with PLC systems, HMI/SCADA, drives and motion systems, and industrial 
networks. 
• Exposure to Level 2 systems, process control, or MES integration is highly desirable. 
• Familiarity with power distribution systems, MCCs, substations, and field 
instrumentation. 
• Understanding of power quality, power factor, and industrial electrical system 
performance is preferred. 
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills. 
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and OEM vendors