From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. 

The Electrical Controls Engineer will be responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and optimizing the control and automation systems for Sonoco’s Industrial Products Division.  The position will work closely with the maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to continuously improve the safety, reliability and productivity of systems and equipment.  It has the responsibility to provide strategic technical support, develop strategic plans for system modernization, and lead or participate in project teams involving control system upgrades and installations. 

What You’ll be doing

• Acting as project lead for automation and control projects.
• Working with engineers, operations management, maintenance personnel, and contractors to develop and meet scope, budget, and schedule requirements on assigned projects.
• Creating documentation packages for bidding, installation, start-up, and maintenance of control system projects. (scope of work, conduit layouts, cable schedules, connection drawings, bill of materials, preventative maintenance procedures, and required spares).
• Providing commissioning and startup support for controls projects.
• Developing and maintaining a project funnel for automation and control system upgrades.
• Working with plant process engineers to optimize control system performance.
• Providing direction to the maintenance team on controls related work orders.
• Training the maintenance team on new and existing automation and control systems.
• Troubleshooting alongside the maintenance team during system upsets.

This position is located in Hartsville, SC, however we will consider applicants from other locations due to the travel associated with this role. Other locations this position can live is Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Raleigh, NC; Greenville, SC

We’d love to hear from you if:

• You’ve graduated from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering.  Electrical preferred
• You have experience with PLC programming including ladder logic, function diagrams, and structured text.  Specific experience with Rockwell / Allen Bradley and Siemens is a plus.
• You have experience with AC and DC drives.  Specific experience with Yaskawa, Siemens and Rockwell is a plus. 
• You have experience with control system network interfaces and communications protocols.
• You have experience with HMI configuration and programming.
• You have experience with distributed control systems (DCS) and continuous process controls including field instrumentation and valves.  Specific experience with ABB and Foxboro is a plus. 
• You have experience with control system preventative maintenance including software backups.
• Possess Autocad skills to allow the creation of power plans, single lines, control panel layouts, and electrical control diagrams.
• You can demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.
• You have a proven ability to work in a team environment requiring collaboration with all levels of the organization. 

This is a progression position and can be level I-IV, based on experience and business needs

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.