Senior Automation Engineer (PLC/SCADA)

As a 100% Employee-Owned company, Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. believes our Associates are the foundation of both our customers’ and our success.  Our strong company culture, and belief in continued investment in our Associates, has helped us realize long Associate tenures, as well as long lasting relationships with our customers.  Under the Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. umbrella there are two divisions: R.E. Mason and Apperture Solutions.

R.E. Mason is an Emerson Impact Partner covering North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.  Emerson is the global leader of process systems and solutions.  R.E. Mason provides industry-leading process equipment and service for process control, automation, safety, and reliability.  The industries served include Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Power & Utilities, Food & Beverage, and Pulp & Paper. 

Apperture Solutions is a technology independent, professional consulting, and implementation services firm.  Apperture Solutions offers Data Enablement, Production Optimization, Operations Management, Control Systems Design and Integration, along with many Other Value-Added Services.  Apperture Solutions partners with other providers to offer our customers the technologies and solutions that fit their needs.

What Apperture Offers Associates:

Apperture is a 100% employee-owned company that offers a comprehensive, industry leading benefits package to all eligible Associates:

• Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Retirement plan, including a Safe Harbor contribution
• Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance
• Employer paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous paid leave options that include vacation time, sick leave, personal leave time, REM Way Half Day, paid Jury Duty, and paid Bereavement Leave
• Paid company holidays
• Career Development Program
• Retirement and Financial Wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Alternative/Hybrid Work Schedules

General Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated controls engineer to join our Factory Automation and PLC Services Team. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in Factory Automation Systems and Controls including PLC/HMI, Edge Device for IIoT/I4.0 and SCADA systems with excellent technical skills to deliver high-quality services to our clients. The successful candidate will be a significant contributor on our Project Execution Team. The Automation Engineer will work in the development, delivery, and commissioning of PLC-based control systems and solutions for R.E. Mason’s industrial customers.

The Automation Engineer will have close interaction with the Project Technical Lead Engineer (“Tech Lead”) who will be managing the configuration development. The Tech Lead will provide coaching to the Automation Engineer to ensure the work adheres to technical standards and guidelines and is completed with the high level of quality expected by our customers.

The Automation Engineer will also provide aftermarket (“Lifecycle”) and staff augmentation support to customers. Typically, this includes maintaining and updating existing control strategies, implementing small scale expansion projects and assisting with process optimization projects.

Specific Responsibilities

• Configure, troubleshoot, and maintain PLCs used to control both OEM skids and custom process equipment
• Configure SCADA solutions and local Historians and configure integrations to 3rd party systems such as Emerson’s DeltaV DCS & OSI PI
• Develop system documentation which includes functional requirements specifications and detailed design specifications for a variety of continuous and batch process control applications
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (“FAT”s) / Site Acceptance Tests (“SAT”s) and any start-up and commissioning activities at customer sites
• Travel in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia – approximately 25%
• Develop scope and specification documentation for new station equipment installations, including control panels and station instrumentation.
• Review vendor provided design packages for new control panels and/or instrumentation installations to ensure package meets design requirements.
• Liaison with contractor for panel and equipment installations.
• Migrate existing PLC programming to Emerson Rx3i, including configurations and logic files.
• Perform GE iFIX control database modifications as needed.
• Perform graphic development and modification from existing station graphics, including Emerson QP+ HMIs and GE iFIX, as needed.
• Perform typical Power and Grounding checks and I&I.
• Work with plant personnel and contractors to perform loop checks, final testing and any necessary startup support.
• Maintain station I/O lists and drawings during system checkout and commissioning.

Required Competencies

• US Citizenship required
• Demonstrated interest in software development
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in team environment; a team player
• Self-directed, self-motivated, and detail oriented
• Customer focused
• Organized and reliable; Demonstrates integrity
• Valid driver’s license required
• This is a hybrid role requiring three days per week in the office and two days working from home.

Required Education and Experience

• B.S. in CHE, EE, ME, Comp. Eng, Comp. Sci., other related disciplines
• 10+ years of relevant experience
• MS Office Experience

Preferred Experience/Competencies

• Experience using and configuring PLC control systems including Emerson VersaMax / PACSystems (formerly GE), Allen-Bradley, and Siemens.
• Experience using Studio 5000 Logix Designer and configuring HMIs and SCADA applications such as PanelView / Panel View Plus, WonderWare, Ignition, and Iconics
• Ability to configure 3rd Party interfaces using OPC and FactoryTalk Gateway
• Understanding of regulated and validated systems
• Prior experience working in a relevant manufacturing environment
• Windows Server 2016/2019 and network troubleshooting skills

Physical Requirements

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Kneeling
• Reaching Overhead
• Climbing
• Pushing and Pulling
• Lifting - 20 pounds
• Using a Computer
• Using a Telephone
• Driving

Apperture is a federal contractor and, as such, is required to solicit the disability status and protected veteran status of candidates. Thus, you are required to answer self-identification questions as part of your application process. These questions are part of Apperture’s Affirmative Action Plan and the completion of these questions will not have any effect on any consideration of your application materials.

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and need to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Apperture, please call our office at (704) 375-4465.

This is a drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of any required pre-employment and, if applicable, ongoing drug testing, including testing mandated by customer site access requirements.