Automation, Electrical & Controls Engineer – UPW Plant

The Ultra-Pure Water+ division of Ecolab is an engineering company specialized in ultrapure water (UPW) treatment systems.

We are looking for an Automation, Electrical & Controls Engineer – Ultra Pure Water (UPW) Plant to be based in Catania is reporting to Operation & Maintenance Manager. The candidate should have technical expertise, problem solving capabilities and understanding of critical utility systems, particularly in process environments (preferably in water treatment systems).

Joining Ultra-Pure Water+ means being part of a global team of innovative and passionate professionals who are committed to preserving water, our planet's most critical resource. It also means combining our efforts and talents towards a more sustainable future – together.          

Key responsibilities include:

• Program, modify and troubleshoot PLC system for water treatment processes

• Develop and optimize automation logic to improve plant performance, reliability and operational efficiency

• Develop communication interfaces between PLCs, field devices and supervisory control systems

• Manage industrial communication networks and fieldbus systems, including troubleshooting of communication issues

• Configure, commission and maintain Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and motor control systems

• Support the specification, installation and commissioning of instrumentation, control equipment, upgrades and plant modifications

• Perform diagnostics and troubleshooting on electrical, automation and control systems

• Maintain and update electrical drawings, I/O lists, Exchange Table and technical documentation

• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance teams to identify and implement process improvements

• Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) investigations for automation and electrical failures

• Maintain work areas, workshops, equipment and storage locations in accordance with 5S principles, ensuring high standards of housekeeping, safety and operational efficiency

• Operate in full compliance with company procedures, environmental regulations, quality requirements and HSE standards, maintaining a strong focus on safety, operational excellence and customer satisfaction

Who We Are Looking For

• We are looking for a highly motivated Automation Engineer with strong expertise in industrial automation, electrical systems and process control

• The ideal candidate combines hands-on troubleshooting capabilities with software development skills and is comfortable working both in the field and on control systems

• Capable to handle Siemens TIA Portal, STEP 7, and SIMATIC Manager

• Proven experience with S7-400, S7-400H, S7-1500 PLCs (programming and industrial automation systems) and HMI / Scada software such as, Ignition or System Platform.

• Proven Experiences with Industrial networks: Profinet, Profibus, Modbus

• Ability to develop communication interfaces between field devices, PLCs and SCADA systems

• Experience in commissioning and troubleshooting Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)

• Knowledge of process instrumentation, including Flow meters, Pressure transmitters, Level transmitters, Temperature sensors, pH analyzers, Conductivity/Resistivity analyzers

• Knowledge of electrical distribution systems, motor control centers (MCCs), actuated valves and field electrical equipment

• Ability to read and interpret: P&IDs, Electrical schematics, Loop diagrams, Control system architecture drawings

• Experience in low-voltage electrical distribution, maintenance and troubleshooting

• Knowledge of electrical protection systems

• Understanding of harmonic mitigation technologies, including Active Harmonic Filters (AHF)

• Ability to work in a cross-border team environment, collaborating with the French and Swiss entities on shared automation projects — providing hands-on engineering development support such as PLC and SCADA software development, control logic and interface engineering, FAT/SAT testing and commissioning, in addition to design reviews and standardization of control system architecture

• Readiness for “On call support” for customer sites

General requirements

• 8 h/days (8:00-17:00), 5 days/week.

• Readiness for travelling within Italy and EU/CH for trainings, meetings, presentations, coordination, reviews and projects (CAPEX)

• Language skills: Italian B2, English B2, French is a plus due to close collaboration with French entity

• Valid Category B driving license

Compensation & Benefit

• An interesting and varied job in an exciting and innovative organization operating worldwide

• The possibility to further develop your personal skills and to earn profound project management experience

• Training and professional development opportunities

• A competitive salary