Controls and Electrical Engineer

Summary (Position Description): The Controls & Electrical Engineer will work to develop and engineer refrigeration control systems from concept to the implementation by working with team member and vendors. This position will be responsible for the design, engineering and development of controls systems utilized in the refrigeration and process industries. Candidate will design and specify control system architecture requirements including PLC/controller, Network, Power distribution, Motor control, IOs, and instrumentation devices. Candidate needs to collaborate and work with cross functional team: Mechanical, Controls Programming, Field Install, and management team to ensure the control system meets the functional and standards requirements. The Engineer will develop and prepare documentation for control system IO, Point to Point and field requirements, electrical panel drawings and BOMs and sensor connection details. This role will prepare a handover package of the project design and be the technical lead during the kickoff meeting with project operations team and be the primary technical support for any Q&A during production and implementation.

Reports To:         Controls & Electrical Engineering Supervisor

Status:                 Full time, Salary Exempt

Location:             Flowery Branch, GA *or* La Verne, CA

Duties & Tasks:

• Preparation of project design documentation including Inputs/Output (IO) Lists, Point to Point wiring requirements, plant layout drawings.
• Coordination and review of control panel drawings and electrical field drawings.
• Perform control and power panel design and engineering, for control panels which may include multiple variable speed motor controls and/or PLC controls and related circuitry. Variable speed drives may be up to 500HP (460V) for single drive panels or may include numerous smaller drives and other motor circuits within a single panel.
• Each panel is unique and requires Main feed & branch circuit power loads calculation, short circuit current rating, panel cooling calculations and other factors to achieve safe and reliable design, plus compliance with UL508A, NFPA and other standards.
• Design PLC control panels, including hardware application and selection, sensor circuitry, communication networks and methods.
• Improve existing and develop new tools to simplify and automate the process of designing, estimating, and proposing control panels; to be integrated with sales, purchasing, and manufacturing processes.
• Provide pre-sales support for project proposal, customer contact and customer service response as needed.
• Organize and lead site walk and survey to complete to finalize the full control system design, including walking scope with potential electrical, mechanical, and field installation subcontractors. Develop handover package documents for the full control system design for review with Operations personnel in kickoff phase.
• The primary industrial platforms are Allen Bradley, Rockwell, Emerson, GE Fanuc, Wago, WEG, Wonderware, etc., and often include variable speed drives and communications with other equipment and devices, as well as enterprise networking. Projects typically involve large industrial refrigeration systems and related controls, and may include control of other energy using systems, such as air compression, lighting, HVAC, pumping systems, boilers, etc.
• Conduct site surveys, individually or as part of a team, to gather necessary information to prepare a control system conceptual design.
• Development of project technical scope, labor and material estimates, and preparation of proposal text.
• Perform control panel wiring if/or when the assistance it is needed. 
• Assist with new project development (e.g. packaged equipment controls).
• Assist with system startup and commissioning.

Who We Are:

VaCom is a trusted “end user centric” systems integrator & advisor providing configurable industrial refrigeration solutions that include mechanical systems, intuitive automation and controls, and value adding aftermarket services driven by EDB 3.0 and that (3) works with and through a network of trusted and selected refrigeration contractors and OEMs.

Conveniently located in Flowery Branch, Georgia 5 minutes off I-985. The Company is wholly owned by Bitzer SE (located in Germany), the Company is a private company and serves as Bitzer’s SE’s North American industrial refrigeration arm. On a global basis, Bitzer SE has 3,400 employees in 60 locations.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Technical proficiency, ability to communicate with others inside and outside company, ability to learn new systems by applying fundamental knowledge.
• Effective written and verbal communications, in particular writing professionally organized and readable technical reports, as well as through programming and process documentation.

Requirements:

• Strong spreadsheet skills and word document preparation (e.g. documentation, manuals, and proposals) and other PC programs. Drawing packages such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or ePlan. Server knowledge as well as server configuration and set-up. New skills will be gained through a combination of VaCom training, self-study, and outside classes.
• ·  
• Strong mathematical, mechanical, electrical and electronic system fundamentals required, along with power and control theory understanding. Ability to trouble shoot electromechanical systems. Gain or expand knowledge of custom refrigeration applications and other energy processes.
• UL508A experience and/or MRT certification is a plus.
• Field installation and/or startup of control panels a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or other related technical field.

Work Environment:

• Office environment that includes office and light manufacturing/assembly operations with majority of the time sitting down in front of a computer focused on designing electrical controls solutions. Occasional travel to worksites requiring employee to follow jobsite safety requirements: hardhats, steel toe boots, safety glasses, vests. Safe, diverse, and collaborative work culture with engineering, sales and operations staff working to fulfill orders.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; bend; stoop; use hands; and reach with hands and arms. May be required to lift up to 25 pounds. 

Other Information:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employees are required to follow any job-related instructions and to perform job-related duties requested by management. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

This Job Description does not imply an employment contract. VaCom is an at-will employer.

VaCom is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.