What are the responsibilities and job description for the Equipment Engineer position at Novacel?
We are seeking a highly motivated, hands-on Equipment Engineer to join our operations team in Troy, Ohio. In this role, you will be responsible for troubleshooting, optimizing, and enhancing production equipment to maximize reliability, efficiency, and performance. You will play a critical role in driving automation initiatives, reducing downtime, and supporting continuous improvement efforts across our manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement automation solutions for business, manufacturing and software processes.
- Lead electrical and controls troubleshooting activities to minimize equipment downtime and improve operational reliability.
- Program, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and automation systems, with a preference for Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms.
- Perform electrical wiring, control panel assembly, equipment calibration, and system integration for manufacturing equipment.
- Conduct root-cause failure analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
- Collaborate closely with maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable equipment performance.
- Develop, update, and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, technical documentation as well as automation scripts, programs and workflows.
- Drive continuous improvement projects focused on equipment reliability, automation, electrical efficiency, and process optimization.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA 70E, NEC, and all applicable electrical safety standards and regulations.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, mechatronics, or a related technical discipline required.
- Minimum of 8 years of industrial electrical, controls, and automation experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong working knowledge of PLCs, VFDs, motor controls, sensors, safety circuits, and industrial automation systems.
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, PLC Programming).
- Ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and ladder logic programs.
- Experience with industrial networking, communication protocols, instrumentation, and controls calibration.
- Familiarity with hydraulics, pneumatics, conveyors, and electromechanical systems integration.
- Working knowledge of CMMS platforms and preventive/predictive maintenance programs.
- Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting complex equipment issues and performing root-cause analysis in high-speed manufacturing environments.
- Strong commitment to workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
- A proactive, hands-on approach to solving technical challenges.
- Passion for improving equipment reliability and manufacturing performance.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
- The ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments while driving measurable operational improvements.