Job Information
OTECH Corporation Controls Engineer/Maintenance Electrician in Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Job Summary
Lead development, maintenance and continuous improvement of machine and plant control systems for a flexible PVC compounding facility. Ensure reliable, safe, and efficient automated operation of batching, mixing, extrusion dosing, conveying, and packaging lines through PLC/HMI/SCADA solutions, drives, and field instrumentation.
Key Responsibilities
Design, program, debug, and commission PLC, HMI and SCADA systems for extrusion, mixers, feeders/dosing, conveyors, and auxiliary systems.
Maintain and troubleshoot controls, drives (VFDs), servo systems, instrumentation (flow, pressure, temperature, level), and pneumatic/electrical actuators to minimize downtime.
Implement and maintain safety systems: e-stops, interlocks, machine safeties, and safety PLCs per OSHA/NFPA/ISO requirements.
Lead capital and retrofit projects from requirements through commissioning: control system architecture, I/O lists, panel layouts, wiring, bill of materials, vendor coordination, testing and documentation.
Implement process control strategies (PID tuning, recipe management, closed-loop control) to improve product quality, throughput, and scrap reduction.
Support PLC/HMI/SCADA backups, version control and change management; create and maintain wiring diagrams, schematics, and control narratives.
Interface with production, maintenance, quality, and RandD to troubleshoot process anomalies and optimize compounding recipes and line performance.
Develop and deliver operator and maintenance training, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and preventive maintenance tasks for controls systems.
Support continuous improvement and reliability programs (root cause, corrective actions, OEE improvements).
Ensure compliance with electrical codes, company safety policies, and environmental regulations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent technical diploma with relevant experience.
3-7 years controls experience in continuous processing or plastics/compounding/extrusion environment (preferred).
Hands-on PLC/HMI programming experience Allen
Bradley/Rockwell, and Automation Direct (e.g., Productivity Series/Do-more) preferred.
Experience with SCADA/industrial HMIs (Ignition, Wonderware, FactoryTalk, etc.).
Strong skills with VFDs, motor control, PID loop tuning, instrumentation and I/O systems.
Knowledge of industrial network protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, OPC).
Proficient reading electrical schematics, ladder/function block/ST programming, and panel wiring.
Strong troubleshooting skills; able to respond to production incidents and restore operation quickly.
Good communication and project coordination skills; able to work with vendors and cross-functional teams.
Willingness to be on-call for critical outages; occasional overtime and support during commissioning.
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience with PVC compounding, batching, silos and pneumatic conveying, extrusion lines, feeders/dosing systems, and material handling.
Experience with safety PLCs and functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061).
Experience with recipe management, batch control, and MES/ERP integration.
PLC source control and industrial cybersecurity best practices.
Working Conditions
On-site in a manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust and moving equipment; PPE required.
Combination of office and shop-floor work; travel to vendor sites as needed.
Application Materials
Please submit resume, brief summary of controls projects/PLC platforms used (include Automation Direct experience if applicable), and preferred contact details.