Controls Engineer

Title: Controls EngineerReports to: Technology Team LeaderLocation: Ashby, MN or Winchester, VAJob Purpose:Designs, supports, and continuously improves industrial automation and control systems across manufacturing operations. Partners with operations, maintenance, engineering, IT/OT, and vendors to improve reliability, safety, data visibility, process capability, and equipment performance.Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian, and industrial network systems supporting production and utilities operationsCreate and maintain control narratives, electrical drawings, I/O lists, panel documentation, program backups, change logs, and technical standardsSupport automation design, programming, commissioning, FAT/SAT execution, startup, validation, and turnover for capital projects and plant improvement workPartner with maintenance and operations to reduce automation-related downtime through root cause analysis, corrective actions, alarm rationalization, and preventive controls practicesImplement safe, reliable, and maintainable control solutions that support workforce usability, sanitation, food safety, production quality, and equipment reliabilitySupport data collection, dashboards, OEE/downtime reporting, historian tags, and integration between floor-level controls and business systemsAssist with control platform standardization, approved component selection, spare parts strategy, lifecycle planning, and obsolescence risk reductionWork with vendors, OEMs, contractors, and internal stakeholders to specify, review, test, and implement automation solutions that meet company standardsProvide technical support for production issues, utilities systems, process improvements, safety upgrades, and continuous improvement initiativesPromote a professional company image through clear communication, strong ownership, safe work practices, and effective collaboration with plant and corporate teamsRequirements:Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical field preferred; equivalent industrial controls experience may be considered5+ years of hands-on experience supporting PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial instrumentation, motor controls, VFDs, sensors, and automated production equipmentExperience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley controls platforms preferred; experience with Ignition or similar SCADA/historian platforms strongly preferredAbility to read, interpret, and update electrical schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, network diagrams, control narratives, and equipment documentationWorking knowledge of industrial Ethernet, control networks, cybersecurity basics, backup/version management, and safe change-control practicesStrong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skillsAbility to support occasional off-hours troubleshooting, project startups, plant shutdown work, and vendor/OEM commissioning activities as business needs requireManufacturing, food processing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, or regulated-industry experience preferred