Automation Engineer

Job Title: Automation Engineer

Department: Engineering

Reports to: Engineering Manager

Location: American Fork, Utah

As an Automation Engineer, you will leverage your electrical engineering expertise to design, implement, and maintain industrial automation, control, and instrumentation systems. The ideal candidate will have expertise in electrical design, control system programming, instrumentation selection, calibration, and troubleshooting. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced industrial environment.

 Essential Functions Include:

• Design and develop industrial electrical and instrumentation control systems including PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
• Create, modify, and maintain industrial control panel layouts and electrical schematics.
• Review, standardize, approve and maintain facility and construction electrical schematics. 
• Develop and maintain P&IDs, and instrumentation diagrams using CAD software.
• Select, specify, and integrate sensors, transmitters, and measurement devices.
• Calibrate and commission instrumentation for accuracy and reliability.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues with automation hardware, and instrumentation
• Develop and optimize PLC and HMI programs for industrial processes.
• Conduct system testing, validation, and commissioning for new and existing control systems.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and company policies.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and production teams to improve automation and control processes.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies and best practices in industrial automation and instrumentation.

 Qualifications Include:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• 5 years proven experience in designing and implementing automation systems in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience with electrical design tools such as AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.
• Familiarity with motor controls, VFDs, sensors, and industrial instrumentation.
• Ability to design, develop and create electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical documentation.
• Experience in PLC programming and HMI/SCADA development (Ignition Preferred).
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profibus, HART, etc.).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving skills and the ability to interpret data to make informed decisions
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities to support cross-functional teams.
• Up to 40% Travel required to company facilities and supplier locations, including North America & Canada.

Food Safety Requirements:  

• Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates. 

Physical Requirements – Must be able to perform the following functions with or without accommodations:

• Consistent and reliable attendance
• The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 50% or more sitting, 50% or more walking, and 50% or more standing. 
• The job is performed under some temperature variations and in a food manufacturing   production environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.