Plc Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Summary

Designs systems of electrical and fluid controls for a variety of applications including welders, robots, assembly, conveyance and transfer systems.  Applies expert/expertise knowledge, principles and techniques in engineering and computer science to generate required hardware design schematics and develop software system programming and documentation. 

This is a professional position, requiring resource management skills to direct and monitor tasks of others.  Must be capable of making autonomous decisions based on experience and project requirements.

Has specialized training either formal or through on-the-job work experience.

Has extensive technical knowledge gained through customer and project experience.

Duties and Responsibilities - Hardware

·         Understands customer specifications (corporate and plant), standards, and local and/or national electric codes for use in designing hardware schematics.

·         Constructs electrical and Fluid schematic packages by laying out I/O, designing magnetic circuits, fusing, control panel layouts, bills of material, and cable layouts. 

·         Performs the required sizing calculation for power, heat dissipation, wire sizing, fusing, etc.

·         Performs the required calculations for network layout and traffic analysis.

·         Researches, develops and customizes new hardware and software interfaces.

·         Coordinate and review with Technical Leaders, Automation Engineers, Sr. Controls Engineers, and colleagues to maintain consistency within a given project.

·         Checks hardware schematics detail work of Entry Level Controls Engineers

·         Works within the scope definition and timing (due date) requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities - Software

·         Understands customer specifications (corporate and plant) along with standards for use in designing software programs.

·         Researches, develops and customizes new hardware and software interfaces.

·         Modifies existing logic for ‘kit’ designs, and create logic utilizing existing references on simple to intermediate complexity systems.

·         Must be capable of developing Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens and interface from scratch.

·         Coordinate and review with Technical Leaders, Automation Engineers, Sr. Controls Engineers, and colleagues to maintain consistency within a given project.

·         Checks Logic and HMI work of Entry Level Controls Engineers

·         Works within the scope definition and timing (due date) requirements.

Knowledge & Skills

·         Computers — Knowledge of Windows, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and a high degree of competence with AutoCAD / ePlan.  High degree of competence in HMIs along with Control and Safety PLCs (Allen Bradley, Siemen’s, Modicon, Dynex etc.) and associated application software.

·         Mathematics — Knowledge of basic arithmetic, base 2 (binary), base 16 (hexadecimal), base 8 (octal) and Real (floating point) numbering systems and their applications.  Knowledge of Word / Bit addressing schemes.  Knowledge of logical operators (i.e. AND, OR, NOT, XOR).

·         Mechanical — Knowledge of machines, tools, and print reading. An understanding of mechanical systems, their components, and the relationship of those systems to the controls design.

·         Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.  This includes the ability to curb or limit creativity when customer requirements and /or commonality of designs dictates.

·         Writing - Ability to write technical documents and reports for use as reference by engineering and technical writers as well as documentation for the project.

·         Reading — Ability to read, analyze, and interpret customer specifications, electrical controls schematics, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.

·         Training — Ability to train and mentor other Controls Engineers.

·         Systems Analysis — Determining how a system or process should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

·         Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

·         Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

·         Programming — Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Behavioral Competencies

·         Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and directing resources on tasks for equipment design.

·         Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

·         Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

·         Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting (field check) equipment in preparation for adding, removing, or modifying existing designs / equipment.

·         Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

·         Supervision — Capable of directing 5 or more individuals as required to accomplish projects assignments.  Also may be required to provide feedback to management in evaluations of these employees.

Key Performance Indicators & Measures

·         Meeting project schedules

·         Cost variance

·         Accuracy of project designs

Qualifications (Education, Training, Certification, Licenses, Experience)

·         Overall Experience — 5 years minimum previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience on projects in the Automotive sector (GM, Ford, FCA etc.) as well as Tier 1 suppliers (Dana, Magna, Tower etc.) is required for this position. Must master all competencies of Jr. and Mid-level Controls Engineers.

·         Job Training — Employees in this occupation usually need training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. 

·         Education — Bachelor’s degree in Electrical / Computer Engineering or Electronics Technology or a minimum of five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Company Description