GEA

Electrical Controls Engineer (PLC &HMIs) - Junior

In short

This junior-level Controls Engineer role at GEA, a global engineering company in food, beverage, pharma, and dairy sectors, supports electrical design, programming, maintenance, and troubleshooting of high-speed centrifuges and automated manufacturing equipment at the Janesville facility and customer sites. It requires familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and electrical control panel standards, plus a Bachelor's or Associate degree in Electrical or Electro-Mechanical Technology and 3-5 years of applicable experience. The role involves on-site customer support and travel to U.S. and Canada customer locations approximately 30% of the time, reporting to the Electrical Engineering Manager.

About GEA
GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader.
Benefits
•Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
•12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO
•7% 401(k) employer match
•Tuition reimbursement
•Wellness incentive program
•Confidential Employee Assistance Program
•Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts
Responsibilities / Tasks
•Provides electrical design, development, and programming based on approved P&ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagram) conferring with Team members and management, as necessary. May also require exercising independent judgment.
•Provides solid technical knowledge of automation technologies including sensors, controllers, actuators and industrial networks.
•Supports the design, programming, maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of high-speed centrifuges, as well as automated manufacturing systems and equipment at the GEA Janesville facility or customer sites.
•Understands the theory and applications of fluid power, electrical and mechanical technologies, and programmable logic controllers.
•Develop extensive use of problem solving and the troubleshooting skills. Gains hands-on training working on projects that integrate the broad knowledge of automated systems.
•Use a variety of computer-based and electronically controlled systems in process and manufacturing environments.
•Learn skills necessary to program, assemble, install, troubleshoot, repair, and modify machine instrumentation and controls.
•Able to measure voltage, current, resistance for single and three phase alternating current and direct current (AC/DC) sources.
•Apply math to calculate electrical power equation pertinent to the maintenance field.
•Understands electrical control panel and machinery safety standards (UL 508A, NEC, NFPA).
•Able to interpret and modify engineering drawings for electrical control panels as well as P&ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagram).
•Responsible for the installation and technical support of PLC based hardware and software.
•Assist in the supervision/training of in-house technical personnel as well as customer plant personnel in repairing, overhauling, installing, testing, and inspecting mechanical and electromechanical equipment.
•Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
•Reviews reports of production, malfunction, and maintenance to determine or address problems.
•Provides electrical and controls support to customers and GEA personnel as needed, including troubleshooting, and hardware/software modifications.
•Maintain and update electrical schematics, engineering drawings for production, and technical documentation for new and existent equipment.
•Works effectively in a Team based work environment.
•Familiarity with process controls, motor controls, instrumentation, automation principles, and industrial networking.
•Has knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures utilized in machine control systems.
•Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
•Deadline and detail oriented.
•Familiarity with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). Able to troubleshoot and accomplish minor program changes with these devices as well.
•On site customer support/start-up.
•Reports to the Electrical Engineering Manager.
Your Profile / Qualifications
•Bachelor's Degree or Associate degree or equivalent in Electrical or Electro-Mechanical Technology required.
•Microsoft Office Suite knowledge.
•Must be willing to travel to customer locations in the U.S. and Canada (approximately 30% of the time).
•3-5 years' applicable experience.
The typical base pay range for this position will be communicated during the interview. GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States. The pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary; final offers are based on various factors including skill set, experience, location, and qualifications. Additional rewards may apply.

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