Controls Engineer

About the role

Vulcan Elements is expanding its 1 million‑sq‑ft manufacturing facility and needs a Controls Engineer to lead the automation of magnet equipment. The role starts in Durham, NC and will transition to the new Benson site, offering high‑impact ownership of PLC design, commissioning, and ongoing support.

Key responsibilities

• Program, debug, and commission Siemens and Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and HMIs for new and existing equipment.
• Integrate robotics, conveyors, motion‑control systems, servos and VFDs to ensure reliable material flow.
• Configure SCADA/MES communications, tag mapping, alarming and data acquisition.
• Review vendor schematics, support Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs).
• Provide first‑line troubleshooting for networks, motion systems, instrumentation and industrial protocols.

Required profile

• Hands‑on experience with industrial automation and PLC lifecycle management.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 50 % for FATs and test campaigns.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work across engineering disciplines.

Required skills

• Siemens PLC programming
• Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell PLC programming
• HMI development
• Robotics integration
• Conveyor and motion‑control systems
• Servos and Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• SCADA and MES connectivity
• Industrial communication protocols
• Electrical schematics and pneumatic drawings
• Network architecture design