What are the responsibilities and job description for the Automation Engineer position at Sealed Air Corporation?
Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Automation Engineer at Sealed Air designs, commissions, and improves industrial controls and process automation systems, including electrical power distribution and proprietary ECL equipment, for projects across Sealed Air's global plants. The role combines hands-on PLC, HMI, and motor-control expertise with machine-safety, high-voltage electron beam equipment, partnering with R&D, process engineering, procurement, and operations to deliver safe, reliable, high-performing production equipment. The position is US-based and supports global projects.
Key Responsibilities
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering or a closely related discipline, with 3-5 years of experience in industrial process control system realization and electrical controls design from design to commissioning, or equivalent.
Required Skills And Knowledge
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Automation Engineer at Sealed Air designs, commissions, and improves industrial controls and process automation systems, including electrical power distribution and proprietary ECL equipment, for projects across Sealed Air's global plants. The role combines hands-on PLC, HMI, and motor-control expertise with machine-safety, high-voltage electron beam equipment, partnering with R&D, process engineering, procurement, and operations to deliver safe, reliable, high-performing production equipment. The position is US-based and supports global projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the electrical and controls scope of automation and ECL equipment projects from design through commissioning and production handoff, including integration of high-voltage power supplies, accelerators, and associated control systems into production environments.
- Design, program, commission, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems and industrial networks on Rockwell, Siemens, and other platforms.
- Develop and validate electrical schematics, I/O lists, panel layouts, and control narratives using electrical CAD tools such as EPLAN, or DraftSight.
- Design single-phase and three-phase AC power distribution systems within control cabinets and maintain them as reusable templates.
- Configure, commission, and troubleshoot motor control systems and variable frequency drives.
- Plan and execute FAT/SAT activities, controls checkouts, and acceptance testing for control-system and high-voltage components; document results and resolve issues before release to production.
- Apply NEC and/or CE/Regional Safety Directives, risk assessment methodologies, performance level (PL) calculations, and machine-safety design, and uphold radiation safety in project execution, engaging with the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) community on safety issues.
- Design, identify, and test newer high-voltage and control-system technologies in a lab environment; troubleshoot and optimize existing automation systems and production lines, and provide global troubleshooting support to return failed equipment to production.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering or a closely related discipline, with 3-5 years of experience in industrial process control system realization and electrical controls design from design to commissioning, or equivalent.
Required Skills And Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of PLC platforms, including Rockwell Automation (Studio 5000 / Logix Designer) and Siemens.
- Strong knowledge of HMI and SCADA systems, including Ignition.
- Experience configuring and troubleshooting VFDs and motor control systems (PowerFlex preferred) and designing single-phase and three-phase AC power distribution systems.
- Working knowledge of industrial networks and protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and Profibus, and of Industry 4.0 principles and tools.
- Good knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC), understanding of risk assessment methodologies, PL calculations, and safety design, plus willingness to learn and apply applicable global standards such as the CE Directives.
- Ability to read electrical and pneumatic diagrams and experience with electrical CAD tools.
- Production line commissioning capability (FAT and SAT).
- Willingness to complete radiation safety training.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project-management tools.
- Experience configuring and tuning PID process control loops.
- Experience with high-voltage DC power supplies and power electronics is a plus.
- Experience in manufacturing, plastic packaging, or extrusion environments is a plus.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including with cross-functional and international teams.
- Strong ownership and a problem-solving attitude.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to manage priorities in fast-paced industrial environments.
- Curiosity to learn new processes and techniques, with a drive for continuous improvement.
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discounts
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid elder care
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
- Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.