Job SummaryWorking on both projects and bid proposals, the Automation Engineer is responsible for the execution of automation systems, or parts thereof. The Automation Engineer is responsible for:
- developing an automation solution which meets the requirements of the proposal or project
- ensuring design and execution outputs are delivered in line with the time schedule and quality requirements
- providing technical support regarding automation design aspects throughout project and bid lifecycles
- undertaking other technical tasks as required (e.g. site surveys, feasibility studies, support to sales, etc)
- providing aftermarket support for customers with on 24/7 support up to 1 week per month (possible travel)
- basic understanding of English language – written and spoken
- additional languages a benefit
In general, the Automation Engineer will work as part of a team and will collaborate closely with other team members and functional disciplines to ensure successful delivery of the project or bid scope.
Principal Duties And ResponsibilitiesThe Automation Engineer’s duties include, but are not limited to the following:
Automation EngineerThe primary role will be to undertake automation engineering design and execution tasks on projects or proposals, including:
- Safety & Environment
- Ensuring that automation solutions are safe
- Ensuring that e-stop, isolation & maintenance aspects of solutions have been considered appropriately
- Participating in relevant reviews, as defined in SPX Flow procedures and, additionally, customer contracts, and ensuring that her/his resultant actions have been completed. (Example reviews include: Design Reviews, Risk Assessments)
- Ensuring compliance with local legislation and regulations (for the locality of the plant/process) which apply to engineering design (e.g. EU Machinery Directive)
-
Acting in a safe fashion, particularly when operating outside of the known office environment (e.g. on customer and supplier sites)
-
Automation Design & Execution Tasks
- Generating automation solutions and defining and implementing their characteristics by means of (for example):
- Automation architecture diagrams
- Hardware and software selection and specification
- Control philosophy
- Software structure
- Functional design descriptions (e.g. FDS)
- Detailed design specifications (e.g. DDS)
- PLC software code (e.g. device logic, equipment modules, control modules, etc)
- Network and comms configuration
- Design and configuration of HMI applications
- Design and configuration of SCADA applications
- Interface with SCADA systems, I/O servers, etc
- Interface with MIS/MES systems and databases, where applicable
- Interface with ERP systems, where applicable
-
Signal exchange / interfaces with other systems
-
Adhering to SPX Flow procedures, and utilising applicable tools and design standards, during the development of automation solutions
- Completing design calculations (e.g. estimating number of tags) to support automation design and equipment selection
- Undertaking software simulation / Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Customer Acceptance Testing (CAT)
- Ensuring that tasks are completed in accordance with the project schedule, to the required quality and within the allocated budget.
- Solution Ownership
- Ensuring that the solution, for which they are responsible, is functional, and is executed in line with:
- Applicable legislation and regulation
- Customer contractual requirements (or, in case of proposal, RFQ/URS requirements)
-
SPX references, standards and best practices, where applicable
-
Ensuring that design output is complete and of a consistent standard. Examples include ensuring that:
- Documentation (e.g. FDS, DDS, SFC) utilises common standards across the project/proposal and that it is delivered to a consistent level in terms of content and quality
-
Ensuring that S88 based software structures are maintained and applied consistently across an installation
-
Ensuring all scope elements/sub-systems for which they are responsible integrate coherently and that external interfaces are clearly understood and defined
- Considering economic factors with a view to ensuring that the overall project is delivered on budget
- Communication & Team Working
- Undertaking technical discussions with customers and suppliers
- Attending relevant project or proposal meetings e.g.:
- Launch/“kick-off” meetings
- Progress reviews
-
Design reviews
-
Communicating information to stakeholders in a timely fashion
- Supporting other disciplines, during the design phase, to achieve project or proposal deliverables e.g.
- Supply Chain (e.g. initial specification, review of supplier quotes, purchase requisitions, etc)
- Process design (e.g. liaising re functional requirements)
-
Electrical design (e.g. sharing I/O lists to allow allocation to panel, agreeing tagging and addressing standard)
-
Supporting Installation & Commissioning team during the site execution phase e.g.:
- communicating design intent
- assisting with planning of commissioning activities
- undertaking automation commissioning
-
owning resolution of automation snags
-
Assisting with hand-over of records (e.g. source files) to Aftermarket team
- Documentation
- Ensuring that all design information is captured, stored and maintained, in the allocated location, in a structured and accessible fashion
- Preparing User Manuals
- Compiling Operating & Maintenance Manuals, including preparation of spares lists
-
Assisting in compilation of Technical Files, or equivalent, as defined by relevant legislation (e.g. EU Machinery Directive)
-
Additional Sales Support & Proposals Tasks
- Attending pre-contact customer meetings to provide technical support to the sales team
- Undertaking pre-contract studies (e.g. feasibility, site surveys)
- Reviewing technical aspects of quotation text
Lead EngineerResponsibilitiesOn a given project or proposal, the Automation Engineer may be allocated the role of “Lead Engineer”. In this capacity, the they will be expected to lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver the overall design outputs for the scope package for which they are responsible. In this capacity, they will be responsible for additional tasks such as:
- Establishing and leading engineering team meetings/discussions
- Generating and maintaining time schedule for the engineering phase
- Identifying and communicating resource needs
- Actively managing team members to meet schedule demands and target on-budget execution (in terms of hours), whilst still ensuring delivery of a thoroughly engineered, complete design.
- Establishing and communicating consistent design and documentation standards for the project/proposal (e.g. building project “equipment catalogue”, setting P&ID symbol sets, setting auto HW standards, etc)
- Ensuring that required reviews and meetings (e.g. design reviews) are completed and that resultant actions are closed out by the team.
- Ensuring team compliance with SPX Flow processes and procedures
Engineering Community MemberAs a Member Of The Global Engineering Team, The Automation Engineer Will Be Expected To Actively Participate In The Wider Technical Community And Provide Support To Colleagues, Including
- General Technical Support
- Acting as a “subject matter expert” in areas where they have appropriate experience and partake in knowledge sharing as required
- Supporting other staff in areas where they are inexperienced
- Providing general technical support outside of the specific projects/proposals for which they are responsible. Examples include:
- Conceptual design guidance during proposal stage
- Technical review of quotation text prior to bid submission
- Participating in design reviews as an “external” expert
- Continuous Improvement
- Providing input into continuous improvement initiatives (e.g. tools development, standardisation)
- Documenting and communicating “lessons learned”
- Involvement in knowledge sharing initiatives (e.g. documenting best practices)
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- * Fluent English – both spoken and written
- Additional language(s) an advantage
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work on multiple tasks, within a matrix environment
- Ability and willingness to work and build relationships with colleagues across multiple functions and geographically diverse sites
- Good analytical/problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Good initiative and ability to work independently
- The ability to meet high performance standards in a team whilst maintaining ethics and integrity
- Must have experience with Studio5000 from Rockwell
- Must have experience with Siemens SimaticNET and TIA Portal
- Must be proficient with Wonderware InTouch
- Must have experience with Microsoft Excel
- Experience with Schneider PLC systems an advantage
- C++, C#, Visual Studio an advantage
Education And Experience
- * Degree level qualification in appropriate engineering discipline (e.g. Electrical)
- Automation execution experience, preferably in Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical and/or other hygienic industries
- Understanding of control requirements for common hygienic processes (e.g. pasteurisation, CIP) beneficial
- Experience of working within, and leading, a technically oriented team
- Full driving license a strong advantage
- Good level of competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Knowledge and experience of Siemens and AB Rockwell programming environments (e.g. S7, TIA Portal, Contrologix)
- Experience of Wonderware SCADA and associated products (e.g. InTouch) beneficial
- SAP experience beneficial
