Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer

Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer (EC&I | PLC | VFD | Industrial Automation)

Indianapolis Metro Area | Full-Time | $85,000 – $110,000 / year (based on experience)

Engineering Projects | Plant Support | Automation Standards | Multi-Site Responsibility

A well-established industrial organization in the greater Indianapolis area is looking to add an Electrical Controls & Instrumentation (EC&I) Engineer to its engineering team.

This is a high-impact, field-facing technical role with dual responsibilities:

✔️ Supporting operations with real-time troubleshooting, system diagnostics, and instrumentation tuning

✔️ Leading and contributing to capital projects, including the design, specification, and commissioning of electrical and control systems across production sites

You’ll be the go-to subject matter expert (SME) for all things EC&I—working closely with operations, contractors, and engineering consultants to drive operational excellence and system upgrades.

What You’ll Do (Day-to-Day Responsibilities):

Operations & Field Support:

• Serve as a technical first-responder for plant electrical, control system, and instrumentation issues—both remotely and on-site
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions for recurring automation issues
• Commission and tune Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and HART-based field instruments for level, flow, pressure, and temperature
• Support maintenance teams in troubleshooting PLCs, panel wiring, and I/O communication faults
• Develop or revise electrical schematics and panel drawings, especially for legacy systems

Engineering & Capital Project Execution:

• Partner with the Capital Projects & Engineering team to develop scopes of work for EC&I upgrades and new installations
• Write and review functional specifications, control strategies, alarm setpoints, and sequence of operations
• Evaluate and approve third-party electrical and control system designs, drawings, and programming (Allen-Bradley preferred)
• Coordinate with and manage contractors during installation and commissioning phases
• Lead or support startup and validation activities of new automation equipment

Standards, Strategy & Optimization:

• Define and implement internal EC&I engineering standards, including control panel design and instrumentation specifications
• Participate in long-term automation planning, including plant-wide control system architecture
• Help standardize processes across facilities by capturing institutional knowledge and translating it into documented engineering standards

What We’re Looking For:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Experience:

• 3 years of hands-on experience in EC&I engineering (industrial or manufacturing environments preferred)
• Proficient with:
• PLC programming and troubleshooting (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley ideal)
• VFD commissioning and tuning
• Electrical panel layout and component selection
• NEC/NFPA 70 standards and industrial power distribution (MCCs)
• Instrumentation (pressure, flow, level, temperature) with HART devices
• AutoCAD and reading/modifying ladder logic and electrical schematics
• Experience managing or coordinating with contractors and system integrators during project execution

Skills & Traits for Success:

• Technically deep and resourceful—able to reverse-engineer undocumented systems in the field
• Highly organized and proactive, with strong follow-through on project timelines and operational support
• Clear communicator, capable of translating field issues into actionable engineering solutions
• Curious and adaptable—comfortable making progress even in less-structured, legacy environments
• Willingness to travel (~35%) to support field assessments, commissioning, and project oversight across multiple plant locations

What’s in It for You:

• A visible, high-responsibility engineering role with meaningful autonomy and technical ownership
• A balance of day-to-day troubleshooting and long-term engineering development
• A dynamic environment where your work directly impacts system uptime, safety, and capital strategy
• Competitive compensation: $85,000 – $110,000/year full benefits and project exposure
• The backing of a well-resourced, growth-oriented organization with strong roots in the Midwest

📩 Ready to learn more?

We’re hiring now. Message me directly or apply to discuss next steps.

Know someone in your network with strong EC&I chops and a background in industrial automation? Feel free to share this!