Automation Engineer

SEL (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories) seeks a professional and innovative individual to join our Equipment Automation Engineering (EAE) team in Lewiston ID.  SEL is a 100 percent employee-owned company that specializes in creating and manufacturing digital products and systems that protect and control power systems around the world.  

The Equipment Automation Engineering team supports manufacturing and vertical integration teams by understanding our manufacturing processes, recommending solutions, and executing projects.  

The successful candidate will be dependable, responsible, and self-motivated, and work closely with other EAE automation controls engineers, EAE mechanical engineers, Production representatives, and related Engineering teams to develop, successfully implement, and support custom manufacturing automation solutions. 

As an Automation Controls Engineer, a typical day might include the following:   

1. Designing or upgrading custom automated manufacturing equipment.

2. Developing and maintaining a detailed understanding of industrial automation/control systems including related hardware, protocols, serial and network communications, security, and logic programming.  

3. Laying out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and creating electrical schematics. 

4. Creating product documentation such as operating manuals, spare parts lists, and maintenance manuals.

5. Managing electrical cabinet builds.

6. Creating machine interactions with plant-wide Manufacturing Execution System (MES).  

7. Introducing automated processes into production, and training Maintenance and Production teams to support after deployment of equipment. 

8. Managing project scope, schedule, and budget for assigned projects.  

9. Mentoring Associate Engineers and Technicians.  

10. Other duties as assigned.  
  

This job might be for you if you have: 

1. B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or related discipline; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

2. Typically 2+ years relevant experience in designing, implementing, and/or modifying automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.  

3. Working knowledge in the area of PLCs (example: Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi), HMI/GUI layout, Field Bus Networks, Vision Systems, and integration of Robotics.  

4. Familiarity with electrical prints and standards for industrial equipment.  

5. Demonstrated proficiency in programming PLCs.    

6. Familiarity with some of the following programming methodologies:

     - State machines
     - Pick and place automation
     - Parallel processing
     - PID Control
     - Data management

7. Proven ability to design fault-tolerant systems with error handling and recovery processes.  

Location Information

Lewiston, ID – This position is located in Lewiston, ID where you'll enjoy an unmatched quality of life. Enjoy the smaller town life: country space, freedom from traffic, easy access to recreational activities in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as great schools and universities.​

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.

People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.

• We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.  
• Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range Data –

$82,000 - $122,900 annually - Associate Automation Engineer

$89,400 - $134,100 annually - Automation Engineer

$107,600 - $161,500 annually - Lead Automation Engineer

We set starting pay based on job-related factors such as your experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Depending on your background, we may consider you for a different level, with compensation aligned accordingly. 

Communication with Applicants 

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [email protected].

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.