Senior Automation & Controls Engineer II

About the Role: We’re looking for a highly experienced automation, and controls engineer to support and modernize the automation systems across our rolling mill operations. This role is ideal for someone who understands the fast‑paced, high‑precision nature of a rolling mill, enjoys solving complex control challenges, and wants to drive meaningful improvements in throughput, quality, and reliability. You’ll work with everything from legacy systems to advanced drive controls, thickness/shape control, and real‑time data analytics.

What We Offer: Competitive pay and annual bonus Day 1 Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Coverage 401(k) with 100% Match up to 6%Life Insurance & Disability Insurance Paid Parental Leave & Tuition Reimbursement Career Pathing & Professional Development

What You’ll Do: Lead the design, programming, and optimization ofPLC, HMI, and SCADA systemsacross the rolling mill. Support and enhance automation forroughing stands, finishing stands, loopers, shears, cooling beds, and material handling systems. Work extensively withdrive systems(AC/DC drives, VFDs, motor control centers) and coordinate with mechanical/electrical teams to ensure stable mill operation. Improvetension control, speed control, interstand coordination, and thickness/shape controlthrough advanced automation strategies. Integrate sensors, instrumentation, and control systems withdata platformsto improve visibility into mill performance, quality, and equipment health. Develop dashboards, KPIs, and analytics models to support operations, maintenance, and process engineering. Lead modernization projects, including migration from legacy systems to modern platforms. Collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, reliability, and process engineering teams to ensure consistent, high‑quality production.

What You Bring: BS in Mechatronics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering and 3 years’ experience in industrial automation controls and object-oriented software development. Extensive experience inrolling mill automationor heavy industrial continuous processes. Strong PLC programming skills (Allen‑Bradley Control Logix, Siemens S7, or similar).Deep understanding ofdrive systems, speed/tension control, and interstand coordination. Experience withHMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networks, and communication protocols (Ether Net/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC UA).Familiarity withdata analytics tools(SQL, Python, Power BI, Ignition, etc.).Ability to lead projects, mentor technicians/engineers, and communicate effectively across departments. A strong focus on safety, reliability, and continuous improvement. Why This Role Stands Out Direct impact on mill performance, yield, and product quality. Opportunity to modernize systems and introduce advanced automation, IIoT, and analytics. A mix of hands‑on engineering and high‑level system design. Work in a critical operation where strong controls expertise is highly valued.

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time Job function: Manufacturing and Project Management Industries: Primary Metal Manufacturing Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Gerdau North America by 2x