What are the responsibilities and job description for the Automation Engineer Intern position at Hoffman & Hoffman Inc?
Automation Engineer Intern
Job Description
An Automation Engineer Intern is a student or recent graduate who works in a temporary role as an entry-level engineering professional responsible for supporting the development, design, and implementation of industrial control systems for building automation projects. This role will help the candidate gain practical, real-world experience by combining control system design, HMI/SCADA development, PLC/DDC programming, and/or field commissioning to ensure the successful delivery of projects under the guidance of senior engineers. An Automation Engineer Intern will learn how a business runs while focusing on learning company standards, control system architecture, and software integration which contributes to a real client project.
Education
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or Associate degree in any of the following fields: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Trade school certificates or equivalent technical training combined with relevant experience may also be considered.
Experience
- 0–1 years of experience in industrial automation, instrumentation and controls, PLC/DDC programming, or a related industrial engineering field.
- Familiarity with PLC/DDC and HMI configuration, industrial networking, and/or HVAC systems is a plus.
- Familiarity with construction site environments and field devices (instrumentation, valves, drives) is a plus.
Skills
Technical Skills:
- As an Automation Engineer Intern, you will build your technical skills and gain hands-on experience in several of the following areas.
- Systems Knowledge: Basic understanding of HVAC and building automation systems (BAS).
- Control System Design: Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, control system documentation, and network architecture drawings.
- HMI/SCADA: Basic experience with HMI and SCADA platforms (e.g., Rockwell, Ignition, Wonderware) and the ability to instantiate standard graphics, alarms, and trends.
- PLC/DDC: Basic understanding of PLC platforms (e.g. Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and at least one industrial automation programming language, such as Ladder Logic.
- Networking & Infrastructure: Basic understanding of industrial protocols (Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet/IP) and OT network design.
- Testing: Familiarity with troubleshooting techniques and tools such as simulators and multimeters for software testing and point-to-point device verification.
Soft Skills:
- Learning Mindset: A strong eagerness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving engineering standards.
- Problem-Solving: A solution-oriented mindset with the ability to perform strategic debugging and know when to escalate issues.
- Attention to Detail: High commitment to accuracy in technical drawings, naming conventions, and project documentation.
- Communication: Ability to provide concise status updates and define technical challenges to project leads and team members.
- Leadership: Ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
Responsibilities
- Control System Design: Assist with product selection for common automation systems and applications and support generation of accurate control system drawings.
- HMI/SCADA Configuration: Instantiate graphics and configure HMI/SCADA screens in alignment with company standards.
- PLC/DDC Programming: Support basic PLC and DDC programming tasks such as tag configuration and control logic using standard templates, reusable code libraries, or custom code.
- Testing and Commissioning: Assist with testing, device verification, and troubleshooting during bench testing, Factory Acceptance Testing, and site startup activities. Travel to client locations may be possible.
- Documentation: Assist with development of accurate project documentation, including IO lists, Sequence of Operations, Functional Specifications, test protocols, and redline markups.
- Safety & Compliance: Follow all office and site safety procedures and participate in mandatory safety training (e.g., OSHA-10).
- Quality Control: Ensure all document and code deliverables meet established quality standards for right-first-time accuracy and on-time delivery.