Sr. Automation & Controls Engineer

Springs Window Fashions•Middleton, WI

About The Position

JOB PURPOSE: Develop, implement & expand in-house capabilities for machine control and process automation/digitalization. Aligning with business strategies; improving customer experience related to quality performance & delivery, factory efficiency and enterprise Value Creation using Smart Technology. JOB DUTIES: Major Areas of Responsibility/Tasks/Duties · In general o Interview internal customers at Manufacturing locations to gain insights on top opportunities to bring digital and automation solutions as value creation. o Develop solutions specifications, supporting business cases and alternatives to improve operational efficiencies. o Standardize and scale proven smart technology solutions across network. o Working with vendor-partners, creating new smart technology systems that are transformational competitive advantage. o Ensure artifacts are provided, stored, searchable that will allow support/maintenance by others · Manufacturing Process Automation, specifically o Develop schematics, cabinet layout, PLC programs, SCADA interfaces, acceptance test criteria (create the RFQ and review the vendor RFPs) o Work with vendors to create systems (BOTH factory acceptance, on-site acceptance are expected) o Identify opportunities to bring portions of system development in-house o SCADA integration with local and corporate systems o Compliance with industry-standard practices (electrical power distribution, human interaction/safety), work closely with corporate and site Maintenance, Engineering, ESH leaders. o Working with local associate’s in Maintenance, ESH, Engineering departments to commission and transfer responsibility for operating and maintaining the system to the local team where possible · Data Collection Automation/Digitalization, specifically o Be on the lookout for non-lean behavior (clipboards, white-boards, etc. that contain information that others will eventually transmit manually to other systems for historical display and storage) o Bring ideas to the team, participate in solution design, problem-solving, etc. o Create software tools in the SCADA layer to facilitate data collection, rapid problem-detection and problem-resolution SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY: Other Scope Data: (Any other specific items that could help indicate the size, nature, and value of this job.) Will be a member of a team that will be making significant changes in the way things are done. A curious, entrepreneurial, collaborative personality will make this easier. Network Footprint: SWF has many manufacturing, engineering/research/development sites. This role is expected to travel, as needed to the sites, as needed. Likely to be 25% travel, at a minimum, and could expand during implementation/adoption phases to 100%. IT Ecosystem: There are several toolkits in use to manage the flow of information between end-users, planners, engineering, and manufacturing. As we become more future-proof, the shop-floor systems will need to be upgraded and expanded. Applicants do NOT need to be fluent in all of them, but will be encouraged to simplify, re-factor, etc. as familiarity with those other systems increases. o Be prepared to participate in cross-functional teams o Be on the lookout to remove technical debt o Create artifacts as needed to make sure systems are maintainable

Requirements

BS in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering. Mechatronics is a possible path, but will receive more scrutiny
3+ years as an active lead machine designer. If a team-member, but never a lead, that may be a possible path, but will receive more scrutiny for gaps in capabilities
Familiarity with A3 9-step problem-solving or some other formal problem-solving methodology/toolkit
Application Development
PLC (there is no current standard brand)
PowerAutomate and other workflow-management platforms to create tools that others will use to make their lives simpler (no current standard)
Inductive Ignition (Edge and Perspective, facility with Jython is expected)
MS SQL Server database (the database is professionally managed by others)
Machine Building
Near-term: classic standalone tools to perform tedious/repeatable/awkward tasks currently performed by associates
Motors, actuators
Vision (2D)
Future: Cobots to truly facilitate/enhance associates’ capabilities
Tolerance, patience and persuasiveness are a must.

Nice To Haves

CSIA (or progress) will be valuable
Inductive Ignition Gold Certification (or progress)

Responsibilities

Interview internal customers at Manufacturing locations to gain insights on top opportunities to bring digital and automation solutions as value creation.
Develop solutions specifications, supporting business cases and alternatives to improve operational efficiencies.
Standardize and scale proven smart technology solutions across network.
Working with vendor-partners, creating new smart technology systems that are transformational competitive advantage.
Ensure artifacts are provided, stored, searchable that will allow support/maintenance by others
Develop schematics, cabinet layout, PLC programs, SCADA interfaces, acceptance test criteria (create the RFQ and review the vendor RFPs)
Work with vendors to create systems (BOTH factory acceptance, on-site acceptance are expected)
Identify opportunities to bring portions of system development in-house
SCADA integration with local and corporate systems
Compliance with industry-standard practices (electrical power distribution, human interaction/safety), work closely with corporate and site Maintenance, Engineering, ESH leaders.
Working with local associate’s in Maintenance, ESH, Engineering departments to commission and transfer responsibility for operating and maintaining the system to the local team where possible
Be on the lookout for non-lean behavior (clipboards, white-boards, etc. that contain information that others will eventually transmit manually to other systems for historical display and storage)
Bring ideas to the team, participate in solution design, problem-solving, etc.
Create software tools in the SCADA layer to facilitate data collection, rapid problem-detection and problem-resolution
Participate in cross-functional teams
Be on the lookout to remove technical debt
Create artifacts as needed to make sure systems are maintainable