Controls Engineer III

Controls Engineer III

Beckwood, headquartered in Fenton, Missouri, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of custom hydraulic presses and automation equipment and is seeking an Engineer III – Electrical & Controls to join our team and contribute to the design and implementation of control systems used on various types of press machinery.

This person will be accountable for designing industrial control panels conforming to UL 508A, developing PLC programs, and designing HMI interfaces for press equipment. The candidate must be familiar with advanced motion control, heat and pressure regulation, and data logging. They must be comfortable instructing and assisting less experienced engineers with the critical competencies of the engineer’s role.

Benefits & Perks of Beckwood:

Beckwood offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including:

• Competitive salary
• Bi-annual bonus potential
• A team-focused culture with catered lunches, team-building activities, and employee engagement events
• Comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees:
  • Health insurance
  • Dental and Vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • AD&D coverage
  • Parental leave
  • Flexible PTO and sick time
  • 401(k) with employer contribution

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Industrial Control Panel Design
  • Create drawing sets in AutoCAD Electrical for in-house electricians to build industrial control panels for industrial-grade presses.
  • Ensure electrical designs are compliant with UL 508A.
  • Design safety circuits compliant with ISO 13849.
  • Monitor project budgets to keep the design within quoted guidelines.
  • Create Controls Approval documents for review and sign-off by the customer.
  • Adapt to occasional customer requirements on hardware.
• Programming
  • Develop PLC programs using several different platforms, mostly Allen-Bradley.
  • Design intuitive and consistent HMIs using Aveva Edge and AB Panel View.
  • Create motion control programs using Delta RMC Tools and Yaskawa MotionWorks.
  • Integrate third-party controls such as oil heaters, robots, conveyors, etc.
  • Develop HMI extensions using traditional programming languages (HTML5, SQL, VBScript).
  • Design simple Industrial IT networks.
• Startup and Testing
  • Perform initial in-house start-up of new machinery to test functionality.
  • Tune PID loops used by motion controllers to optimize machine performance.
  • Occasionally assist with on-site commissioning or training (up to 10% travel).
  • Test sub-system performance, such as heaters, load cells, or third-party equipment.
  • Willingness to change systems rapidly to meet individual customer needs.
• Design Review and Programming Assistance
  • Proof cabinet designs created by less experienced engineers or in peer review sessions.
  • Share and communicate examples of code with other programmers.
  • Make sure all criteria are met by comparing specifications to design.
• Communication
  • Work with shop leads during the start-up of new projects.
  • Keep management informed of project progress.
  • Meet with customers to line out details of control plans and sequencing.
  • Communicate with estimating and sales on potential projects.
• Service
  • Provide remote support during machine installation and warranty work.
  • Onsite support may be required for more complex machines.

Reporting / Supervisory Relationships

The Electrical Controls Engineer III reports to the Electrical Engineering Supervisor. The position does not have any direct reports but needs to be comfortable mentoring less experienced engineers and working with the shop and service team through any challenges.

What We’re Looking For:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, most commonly Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7-9 years of manufacturing experience with a bachelor’s degree.
• 9-11 years of industry experience without a bachelor’s degree.
• UL 508A Certification a plus
• AutoCAD Electrical Certification strongly desired

Key Skills & Attributes:

Successful candidates typically demonstrate:

• Creativity and Innovation
  • Looks at challenges in a unique manner and develops innovative solutions.
  • Develop new ideas to improve productivity, increase revenue, or control costs.
  • Recognize patterns, connections, and trends before others.
• Integrity and Ethics
  • Communicates honestly and openly.
  • Is trusted by others.
  • Takes responsibility for mistakes and credits others when appropriate.
• Personal Courage
  • Willing to express opinions even if different from the group.
  • Willing to be held accountable and doesn’t shirk personal responsibility.
  • Counted on when times are tough.
• Organization
  • Manages time well and spends most effort on key, value-added activities.
  • Can manage multiple projects.
  • Meets deadlines.
• Priority Setting
  • Allocates time to the most important and immediate objectives.
  • Able to quickly respond to changing priorities.
  • Can eliminate barriers to performance.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 25%

Work Environment

This position operates in an office environment with equal time in the plant. The employee is regularly exposed to a variety of conditions within the plant. The noise level is usually moderate. Will be exposed to manufacturing conditions including heat in the summer months and cold in the winter months.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This role primarily operates in a professional office environment, requiring the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while occasionally moving about to access office equipment and files. Additionally, the position occasionally requires moving throughout the manufacturing floor to position oneself for equipment inspection or maintenance. This includes ascending/descending and working atop ladders or elevated platforms, as well as accessing machinery at varying heights, including ground level. 

About Beckwood

Established in 1976, Beckwood is the world’s leading supplier of hydraulic and servo-electric presses, automation equipment, and industrial solutions. Our machinery is used by companies worldwide to manufacture the products we use every day. From airplanes to pacemakers and everything in between, our manufacturing solutions make the world smarter, faster, healthier, and safer.

Our people are the heartbeat of our organization. We come to work each day for the challenge and approach every project with a can-do attitude. We are competitive, fun-loving, and creative—with a passion for customer satisfaction. Learn more about our culture at beckwoodpress.com/careers.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.