Level Ii Automation Engineer

SSAB is one of the largest North American producers of steel plate and coil, serving many industrial markets including energy, construction, agriculture and transportation.  SSAB operates five state of the art facilities strategically located in key regions across the U.S. 
SSAB has nearly 1,200 highly skilled employees in the U.S.  Jobs at SSAB range from machine operators and sales people to advanced engineers and corporate professionals in HR, finance and more.  SSAB offers challenging careers and comprehensive benefit program designed to keep employees and their families healthy and secure.

The Heat Treat Level II Automation Engineer is responsible for a variety of software engineering and process engineering functions including: analyzing process performance, development and design of process changes, managing the implementation of process improvements and project management of related engineering activities.  Responsible for setting up and maintaining departmental networks, writing and tuning of required models and supporting all departmental computer systems and HMI's. The Automation Engineer will also manage the timely completion of all open automation projects, work with maintenance and operation personnel to keep equipment operating in a safe manner while eliminating downtime to maintain high utilization and throughput of quality product in a cost-effective manner.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

MANAGER SUPERVISORY COMPUTER SYSTEMS (LEVEL II):

System Management

•   Monitor and tune application and system processes
•   Manage system resources and logging systems
•   Analyse contents of system logs

Network Management

•   Configure networking equipment
•   Monitor network activity and circumvent problems
•   Analyze detailed network protocol
•   Design and configure networking topologies
•   Specify networking equipment
•   Install networking equipment
•   Test networking equipment

Database Management

•   Maintain logical and physical system backups and replication
•   Monitor database performance and health
•   Monitor connectivity to applications
•   Perform complex ad hoc SQL (System Query Language) queries
•   Implement software that interfaces with databases using library methods and/or embedded SQL as appropriate

Hardware Management

•   Perform time-based maintenance
•   Isolate and replace field components
•   Interface cabling with I/O devices
•   Monitor system performance (error detection and recovery)
•   Personal Computers (working with the plant IT department)

Software Management

•   Monitor applications for correct processing
•   Back-up computer operating system and its applications on various platforms
•   Analyze and troubleshoot operating system and application software
•   Perform maintenance programming
•   Provide developmental programming
•   Develop and evaluate various scripting languages (i.e. UNIX shell programming, gcc make files, etc.)
•   Configure system and application software
•   Personal Computers (excluding those managed by IT)

Interface Management

•   Plan, design, develop, implement and maintain HMI applications
•   Develop and Maintain Web Applications (C# ASP.NET, EF, HTML5, jQuery)

SUPPORT OPERATIONS:

Respond to Operator requests and problems (24/7 response coverage)

Participate in meetings relating to product quality

Provide training on new software, system updates and control enhancements

Provide report generation

Provide Process and System Root-Cause Analysis

Communication and Interfacing with Other Departments and Project Participants

Support Research and Development Activities

Work directly with the Level 1.5 Engineers on automation projects to support departmental systems

QUALIFICATIONS

• General software development
• Exercise sound engineering and economic judgement and discretion with regard to process control decision-making
• Proficiency in various programming languages including C/C++, C#, and VB
• Experience with the Linux operating system (Debian experience preferred)
• Experience programming real-time software systems
• Experience with MVC architecture and Microsoft Azure DevOps.
• Good problem solving, organizational and communication skills, both oral and written
• Capable of working effectively with minimal direction or supervision
• Strong knowledge of SQL database including configuring and querying
• Trans SQL code for storage procedures
• Networking experience including set up and troubleshooting
• The ability to work overtime as needed to support plant automation systems.
• The ability to work without direct supervision
• The ability to work well with contractors and SSAB maintenance personal on technical problems

Preferred:

• Previous experience in software engineering/architecture
• Previous experience in programming industrial device control systems
• Previous experience in troubleshooting industrial electrical and electronic systems
• Formal training in computer hardware/software from manufacturers or suppliers
• Certifications in computer skills such as database management, networking, specialized languages or software suites
• Possess the knowledge of process interactions between control layers and physical processes in a steel plate manufacturing facility
• Equipment and process knowledge including industrial control computer processors, multi-tasking operating systems, real time communications systems, programmable logic controllers,manufacturing concepts and the ability to integrate them into a working process control system
• Mathematical concepts supporting closed-loop real-time manufacturing controls
• Experience with steel heat treatment processes, industrial tracking, industrial shipping
• Previous experience supporting computer systems in a production facility

Education

Required:

• Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in engineering, computer science or related scientific field; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Bonuses
• Profit sharing
• 401(k) with 5% employer match
• 10 paid holidays
• Vacation
• Excellent, affordable benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• Challenging and interesting work
• Friendly and inclusive workplace

SSAB's vision is a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world.
SSAB's values form the guiding principals of our company. 
They shape our culture and characteristics.  They serve as a compass for our actions and behavior, and describe what we stand for.  Values guide us daily in making the right choices and doing the right things.
SSAB's values are:

• Driven - Together we create value
• True - Do what is right
• Ahead - Future in mind