Jobs Companies Sonoco Controls Engineer

About this Controls Engineer role at Sonoco

Sonoco · Onsite · Richmond, VA, USA

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. 

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 Controls Engineer will be responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and optimizing the control and automation systems at Sonoco’s Paper Mill. The position will work closely with the maintenance, engineering, and operations teams to continuously improve the safety, reliability and productivity of mill systems and equipment.  It has the responsibility to provide day to day 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.

  • Utilizing loop sheets, and electrical elementary diagrams for troubleshoot

  • Using AutoCad top create loop sheets, and electrical elementaries for small control projects

  • Tuning and evaluating control loop performance and auditing control system performance – X,Y plots of control loops to find failing control devices

  • 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.

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.

  • You’ve graduated from a two-year college with an associate degree in electrical engineering and relevant field experience.

  • 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. 

  • You have experience with Schneider DCS, Voith QCS, and Rockwell Contrologix/CompactLogix PLC’s (This could be added to the fourth bullet point)

This is a progression position and can be level I- Senior, based on experience.

Engineer I: The annual base salary range for this role is from $70,080 - $78,840

Engineer II: The annual base salary range for this role is from $84,640 - $95,220

Engineer III: The annual base salary range for this role is from $102,080 - $114,840

Senior Engineer: The annual base salary range for this role is from $110,160 - $123,930

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
  • Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
  • Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
  • Tuition reimbursement

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.

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How this Controls Engineer salary compares

This role pays $74,460/yrbelow the typical range for Controls Engineer roles.

$87,536 median $132,500 $206,250

Typical range $105,375–$168,794/yr, from 546 comparable Controls Engineer listings on JobsRadar (pay annualized to USD). See Controls Engineer salary insights →

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a global leader in value-added, sustainable metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging. The Company is now a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with approximately 22,500 employees working in 270 operations in 40 countries, serving some of the world’s best-known brands. Guided by our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life. , we strive to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence to provide solutions that better serve all our stakeholders and support a more sustainable future. Sonoco was proudly named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek. Sonoco Privacy Policy

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