Controls and Automation Engineer - Indiana Packers Corporation

Controls and Automation Engineer

Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC) is a fully integrated retail, foodservice and private label producer of fresh and processed meats based in Delphi, Indiana. Since the start of operations in 1991, we have experienced rapid growth from a single pork processing company into a multi-plant diversified producer of fresh and processed meats, with locations throughout America's Heartland and revenues of approximately $1.5B. We are best known for our national brand Kentucky Legend (the best-selling boneless ham brand in the United States) as well as several well-known regional brands, including Indiana Kitchen, Fischer's, Field, Mickelberry's, Kentuckian Gold, and Scott Pete. We now have processing facilities in Frankfort, Indiana; Holland, Michigan; and Owensboro, Kentucky.

We value diversity, innovation, collaboration and those passionate about their jobs. We support our associates by offering a total rewards package, including competitive pay, three different medical care plans (two with company-funded health savings accounts), pharmacy, dental, and vision plans, a retirement/401K (with 50% match on team members' contributions), a competitive paid time off program, educational assistance, and numerous advancement opportunities. With more than 3,100 team members located across 14 different states, we are a big company with a small company culture.

Indiana Packers Corporation is in Delphi, Indiana, just 15 minutes away from the greater Lafayette/West Lafayette area, home of Purdue University.

Summary

The Controls and Automation Engineer provides engineering support for the electrical and control systems functions within our operations. This position is responsible for hardware and software process control systems and equipment and will include any associated instrumentation. The Controls and Automation Engineer requires training and project management responsibilities such as evaluating areas of opportunity, designing modifications or improvements, and evaluation of need for new installations to maintain and increase operational efficiency of the process. This position will assist Maintenance, Operations, and other key personnel with assessment of, and proposed solutions to, various electrical equipment problems.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute projects assigned or independently identified, from estimation and planning through completion.
• Evaluate projects and determine descriptions, plans, timelines, resources requirements, costs and other requirements.
• Evaluate, review, and maintain existing electrical control or automated systems to ensure maximum up-time.
• Analyze, develop and maintain reliability maintenance/preventative maintenance procedures as needed.
• Support operations for maximum reliability and up-time.
• Manage user's hardware and software work requests.
• Provide engineering support for existing systems.
• Investigate feasibility and conduct thorough electrical/control analysis to determine potential operational improvements.
• Assessing variety of complex electrical and control issues and applying engineering principles to arrive at solutions to those issues.
• Develop and ensure that guidelines and procedures are followed for software changes and perform PLC programming modifications.
• Create / update process descriptions, operations SOP's, and preventative maintenance procedures.
• Train maintenance and production team members on documentation and equipment operation for newly installed projects and/or new team members that are placed in critical areas.
• Utilize engineering skills to evaluate and implement optimal methods to bridge the gap between design of a product and the final product development.
• Create software design specifications to meet our customer's user requirement specification (URS).
• Work with internal maintenance or engineering team members to diagnose and correct electrical and or controls related problems.
• Adhere to safety and food safety processes and procedures.
• Create and deliver analysis and reports as needed.
• IPC is willing to provide additional training as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university or 4+ years of relevant applicable experience.
• 5 + years experience with controls / electrical engineering in meat processing, food / beverage, packaging, and/or heavy industrial manufacturing plant environment.
• Knowledge of a variety electrical controls and electrical systems.
• Strong project management skills.
• Prefer robotics experience in Fanuc and/or ABB.
• Understanding of basic SCADA systems, preference to Wonderware/Ignition/Rockwell Historian.
• Experience with Allen Bradley and/or Siemens PLC's.
• Must be able to remotely work through system issues and decipher logic and resolve in a timely manner.
• Ability to understand, diagnose and improve control relay logic and schematics.
• Working knowledge of PLC controls (preferred Allen Bradley and Siemens).
• Familiarity in all aspects of Production/Manufacturing Automation.
• Read and comprehend various schematics and other company related documents.
• Possess knowledge of power distribution, motors, and motor controls.
• Must be willing to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Products (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
• Possess strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work in various environmental conditions (cold or hot).
• Must be willing to complete various training programs.
• Able to work beyond normal work hours and weekends as needed.
• Must have independent transportation to work.

Other Duties

Please note, this job description is not designated to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment 

This job operates in an office and plant environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.  While performing the duties of the job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to temperatures, strong odors, moving mechanical parts and vibration.  The noise level in the plant environment can be loud. The successful candidate must be able to navigate both the plant & office environments. 

Physical Demands 

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job.  The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 90 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

EOE, including Disability/Veteran

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