Controls Engineer

Join our team in Monroe, Ohio as a Controls Engineer at Worthington Steel. In this role, you'll help drive safe, reliable, and high-performing operations by strengthening automation, equipment reliability, and process performance through hands-on technical leadership and collaboration.

The Controls Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, optimization, and sustainment of industrial control systems supporting Worthington Steel Monroe operations. This role is critical to driving equipment reliability, process capability, safety, and productivity across coating, slitting, blanking, and material handling operations. The Controls Engineer partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and OEMs to deliver robust, standardized, and scalable automation solutions aligned with Worthington Steel's business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Controls & Automation:

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, HMI, and industrial network systems supporting manufacturing operations
• Develop and maintain control system standards, documentation, and change management practices
• Lead or support controls scope for capital projects, equipment upgrades, and line modifications
• Interface with OEMs and integrators to ensure systems meet Worthington Steel specifications and cybersecurity requirements
• Support commissioning, start-up, and validation of new or modified equipment

Reliability & Continuous Improvement:

• Diagnose chronic equipment and process issues related to controls, instrumentation, and automation
• Partner with Maintenance and Operations to reduce downtime, improve OEE, and eliminate recurring failures
• Apply root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action methodologies to controls-related incidents
• Identify opportunities for automation, data integration, and system modernization

Safety, Quality & Compliance:

• Ensure control systems comply with safety standards (e.g., lockout, safety PLCs, guarding, interlocks)
• Support EH&S initiatives through engineered safety solutions and risk reduction
• Maintain compliance with applicable electrical codes, industry standards, and internal policies
• Support quality systems by ensuring controls support process stability and product conformance

Collaboration & Leadership:

• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for maintenance technicians and engineers
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align controls strategy with operational priorities
• Participate in plant reliability, capital planning, and continuous improvement initiatives

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum 3-5 years of hands-on industrial controls experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong working knowledge of PLC platforms (e.g., Rockwell/Allen-Bradley preferred)
• Experience with HMIs, VFDs, servos, instrumentation, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, etc.)
• Proven troubleshooting skills in high-speed, continuous or batch manufacturing environments
• Ability to work safely and effectively in an industrial steel processing environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in steel processing, metals manufacturing, or heavy industrial operations
• Knowledge of safety PLCs and machine safety standards (e.g., SIL, PL, NFPA)
• Familiarity with data acquisition, MES, or plant floor systems integration
• Project management experience supporting capital or major maintenance initiatives

Key Competencies:

• Results-driven with a strong bias for action
• Structured problem solver with a reliability mindset
• Effective communicator across technical and non-technical teams
• High accountability with strong attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced, production-driven environment

Working Conditions:

• Manufacturing plant environment with exposure to noise, heat, and moving equipment
• Occasional off-shift or weekend support may be required to support operations or project execution