JOB SUMMARY
The Lead Automation Engineer is responsible for delivery of engineering Automation design outputs for projects and, where requested, bid proposals. They will be responsible for the technical scope of the project/proposal (or, in some cases, a sub-area of the scope). For the scope area for which they are responsible, the Lead Automation Engineer must:
- Provide leadership to engineers working on that area.
- Function as the interface point for customers and, also, the SPX internal organization.
- Propose / update the execution strategy within the project life to get the most relevant & efficient team.
- Ensure adherence with relevant SPX Flow procedures and practices (e.g. IDEFs)
- Manage the engineering process to ensure outputs meet schedule, budgetary and quality requirements.
- Ensure that the scope delivered from engineering is aligned with contract or proposal requirements (KPIs)
Depending on the scope of the project, the Lead Automation Engineer may be required to undertake engineering design tasks corresponding to their own core discipline and, as such, reference should be made to relevant job descriptions such as Process Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Automation Engineer, etc.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead Automation Engineers are expected to possess relevant experience of engineering design and execution from within the industries which we serve. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Lead Engineer
The primary role will be to perform the “lead engineer” tasks on projects and proposals:
- Safety & Environment
- Ensuring that plant designs are safe.
- Ensuring that environmental impacts of designs have been considered appropriately.
- Ensuring that relevant reviews, as defined in SPX Flow procedures and, additionally, customer contracts, have been undertaken fully and that resultant actions have been completed. (Example reviews include: Design Reviews, Risk Assessments)
- Ensuring compliance with local legislation and regulations (for the locality of the plant/process) which apply to engineering design (e.g. EU Machinery Directive)
- Promoting a safety culture amongst staff, particularly when operating outside of the known office environment (e.g. on customer and supplier sites)
- Management of Engineering Design Process
- Owning the engineering execution model throughout the project lifecycle, including adapting approach as required to suit changing requirements.
- Interpreting contractual requirements, defining design deliverable, and devising an appropriate plan for the design phase of the project
- Generating and maintaining the time schedule for engineering phase, including consulting with Project Manager to ensure alignment with overall project schedule
- Identifying resource needs and ensuring that resource managers are kept informed about ongoing changes to requirements.
- Establishing and leading engineering team meetings/discussions as required to achieving the project or proposal’s engineering design deliverables. Ask for approval to our customers when contractually required or just deliver documentation for information.
- Managing team members to meet schedule demands and target on-budget execution (in terms of hours), whilst still ensuring delivery of a thoroughly engineered, complete design. (In other words, the Lead Engineer is required to manage the balance between cost, timescale, and quality). Keep close relationship with Project Manager & Costs Controller to provide updated EAC (Estimation at Completion)
- Design Ownership
- Ensuring that the design is executed in line with:
- Applicable legislation and regulation
- Customer contractual requirements (or, in case of proposal, RFQ/URS requirements)
- SPX references, standards, and best practices, where applicable
- Ensuring that the output of design team is complete and of a consistent standard. Examples include ensuring that:
- Documentation (e.g. P&IDs, FDS, Operating Manuals etc.) uses the same standards and that these are delivered to a consistent level in terms of content and quality.
- A suitable “project equipment catalogue” is established to support item selection.
- Consistent approaches are applied for electrical build.
- Ensuring all scope elements/sub-systems integrate coherently and that external interfaces are clearly understood and defined.
- Ensuring that all design information is captured, stored, and maintained in a suitable structured and accessible location (in line with SPX Flow procedures and practices)
- Engaging with Supply Chain to support purchasing process (initial specification, review of supplier quotes, etc)
- Consulting with installation teams to ensure output designs reflect transportation and assembly requirements.
- Leading resolution of design issues identified during the installation and commissioning phases.
- Coordinate customer automation training when applicable
- Communication
- Ensuring appropriate engineering attendance at customer meetings (as agreed with Project Manager or Bid Process Owner) e.g.:
- Pre-contract sales meetings
- Customer launch/ “kick-off” meetings (for project or proposal)
- Intermediate review meetings
- Commissioning or snag resolution meetings
- Ensuring appropriate engineering attendance at internal meetings, as defined by SPX Flow processes, and as agreed with Project Manager or Bid Process Owner) e.g.:
- Progress meetings
- Meetings with
- Risk reviews
- Project reviews
- Design reviews
- Leading communication with other SPX Flow stakeholders (e.g. PM, Project Controls, I&C, AM, Engineering resource managers, EHS & Quality). Ensuring that critical information, such as schedule delays, costs to complete… are communicated in a timely fashion.
Project or Proposal Engineering
Depending on scope and scale of the project or proposal, the Lead Automation Engineer may be required to undertake engineering design and execution tasks associated with their core skill base (e.g. process design, PLC coding, etc). Please refer to associated job descriptions for these specific roles for more details.
Engineering Community Member
As a leader within the engineering team, the Lead Automation Engineer will be expected to actively participate in the wider technical community and provide support to colleagues:
- General Technical Support
- Function as “subject matter expert” in areas where they have appropriate experience and partake in knowledge sharing as required.
- Mentoring of recently recruited, or inexperienced, staff
- Providing general technical support outside of the specific projects/proposals for which they are responsible. Examples include:
- Conceptual design guidance during proposal stage
- Technical review of quotation text prior to bid submission
- Participating in design reviews as an “external” expert
- Provide support to conceptual design or feasibility studies.
- Continuous Improvement
- Providing input into continuous improvement initiatives (e.g. tools development, standardisation)
- Documenting and communicating “lessons learned.”
- Involvement in knowledge sharing initiatives (e.g. documenting best practices)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Fluent English – both spoken and written.
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong knowledge of engineering design & execution
- Ability to work with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to work on multiple tasks, within a matrix environment.
- Ability and willingness to work within a team and build relationships with colleagues across multiple functions and in geographically diverse locations.
- The ability to meet high performance standards in a team whilst maintaining ethics and integrity.
- Ability to work on multiple tasks, within a matrix environment
- Ability and willingness to work and build relationships with colleagues across multiple functions and geographically diverse sites
- Good analytical/problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Good initiative and ability to work independently
- The ability to meet high performance standards in a team whilst maintaining ethics and integrity
- Must have experience with Studio5000 from Rockwell
- Must have experience with Siemens SimaticNET and TIA Portal
- Must be proficient with Wonderware InTouch
- Must have experience with Microsoft Excel
- Experience with Schneider PLC systems an advantage
- C++, C#, Visual Studio an advantage
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Degree level qualification in appropriate engineering discipline (e.g. Electrical)
- Automation execution experience, preferably in Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical and/or other hygienic industries
- Understanding of control requirements for common hygienic processes (e.g. pasteurisation, CIP) beneficial
- Experience of working within, and leading, a technically oriented team
- Full driving license a strong advantage
- Good level of competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Knowledge and experience of Siemens and AB Rockwell programming environments (e.g. S7, TIA Portal, Contrologix)
- Experience of Wonderware SCADA and associated products (e.g. InTouch) beneficial
- SAP experience beneficial
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
In general, this is an office-based job with a considerable amount of time spent at a computer. Ability to travel to other SPX locations and customer sites is a requirement. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Ability to travel globally up to approximately 30% of the time.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SPX FLOW VALUES
SPX Flow employees are expected to behave in accordance with our company values as outlined below.
QUALITY
Quality encompasses all aspects of SPX’s business, and every employee shares the responsibility to prevent the occurrence of any nonconformity relating to product, process, and the quality system. All employees have an obligation to identify and record any such nonconformity, and through designed channels, initiate and recommend solutions.
