Controls and Automation Engineer

Position Summary:

Smooth-On, Inc. is seeking a team-oriented, Controls & Automation Engineer to join our company. Smooth-On is a 120 yr old company, located near Allentown, PA, specializing in silicones, liquid rubber, liquid plastics, foams and other products that allow creators from all walks of life to turn their ideas into 3-dimensional reality.

The successful candidate for this position is responsible for designing, testing, and implementing factory Controls and Automation technologies for a variety of manufacturing and building systems. These installations will require the advanced use of PLC's (Allen Bradley/Automation Direct hardware and software) and incorporate a multitude of various devices and sensors and manufacturing equipment to improve production capacity and product quality. The Controls and Automation Engineer will be responsible for maintaining existing production equipment in partnership with the Engineering & Maintenance team and develop upgrades to improve reliability and function. As a member of the IT Department, the candidate will collaborate with other IT employees and production, engineering, and maintenance departments to streamline and improve processes, and will help create a unified Controls and Automation strategy that will enable Smooth-On to methodically update existing Controls and Automation infrastructure to support production growth.

Smooth-On offers a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays/vacation/sick time, affordable medical and dental, 401K Match, and company paid life insurance. In addition, we have an on-site cardio room, weight room, nap rooms, game rooms, and so much more!

Essential Job Functions:

• Develops and programs new machines, reprograms existing machines, and diagnoses and repairs issues with multi-platform automated systems.
• Conducts tests and completes data collection of all production equipment and systems, develops and manages Controls and Automation upgrade projects.
• Operates required machinery and equipment in a safe manner following established safety rules and creates SOP's documenting equipment and system upgrades.
• Conduct inspections of new and existing automation equipment in the building to make sure that it meets defined Smooth-On Controls and Automation standards.
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on plant equipment.
• Willing to challenge existing Controls and Automation infrastructure and introduce new technologies.
• Prepare AutoCAD or SolidWorks Electrical layouts of equipment and interact with internal and external resources to ensure that the layout matches expectations and production needs.
• Performs engineering design evaluations and presents design options for consideration and review.
• Repair or replace non-functioning Controls and Automation systems with advanced ability to troubleshoot highly complex manufacturing systems.
• Designs, tests, and implements new equipment to increase production efficiency and manages external vendors when they are installing new systems.
• Solicit information and feedback from other departments on repair needs of production and facility equipment.
• Develop electrical bill of materials for projects and as required complete panel builds.
• Architect, write and debug PLC code ensuring that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable.
• Create HMI screens for complex machinery and integrate feedback from the production, maintenance and engineering teams.
• Select and size electrical and electromechanical components such as servos, 3-phase motors, analog and digital sensors and safety circuits.
• Must be a good problem solver and enjoy a dynamic, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment
• Reports to the IT Manager on all ongoing projects and keeps team up to date with project status, completion time projections, and proactive communication of any problems that may have arisen during the project.