What are the responsibilities and job description for the Industrial Automation Engineer (PLC) position at PATTERNS?
Seeking a hands-on Industrial Automation Engineer to design, program, integrate, troubleshoot, and commission PLC and HMI-based industrial control systems. This role provides the opportunity to work across the complete automation lifecycle, from understanding customer requirements and developing PLC/HMI applications through testing, installation, troubleshooting, and successful equipment start-up. The ideal candidate has practical industrial automation experience with Siemens and/or Rockwell/Allen-Bradley platforms and is comfortable working directly with machinery, industrial networks, field devices, electrical documentation, and customers.
What You’ll Do- Design and develop industrial automation and control systems for machine-level and plant-wide applications.
- Develop, modify, test, and troubleshoot PLC programs.
- Develop and configure HMI applications.
- Work with Siemens platforms including STEP 7, STEP 5, and WinCC.
- Work with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley technologies including RSLogix, RSView SE, and RSView 32.
- Integrate PLC and HMI systems with sensors, drives, actuators, instrumentation, and other field devices.
- Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks.
- Support Ethernet/IP, Profibus, Profinet, Modbus, and related industrial protocols.
- Perform control-system testing, debugging, integration, and optimization.
- Support installation, commissioning, and equipment start-up at customer facilities.
- Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, electrical, communication, and field-device issues.
- Modify and optimize existing control systems.
- Review customer requirements and develop appropriate automation solutions.
- Read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical documentation.
- Develop and maintain clear project and controls documentation.
- Collaborate with project managers, engineers, technicians, customers, and other stakeholders.
- Provide ongoing technical support to customers and internal teams.
- Travel to customer locations as required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related discipline preferred.
- Equivalent hands-on automation and controls experience will also be considered.
- Professional experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, machine control, or process control.
- Hands-on PLC programming experience.
- Experience with Siemens and/or Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs.
- HMI development and configuration experience.
- Experience commissioning and troubleshooting industrial automation systems.
- Experience integrating sensors, drives, actuators, instrumentation, and other industrial devices.
- Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.
- Ability to read electrical schematics and P&IDs.
- Strong controls troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work hands-on in manufacturing and industrial environments.
- Strong communication skills and ability to interact directly with customers.
- Willingness to travel to customer facilities as needed.