Price Industries is seeking a Corporate Automation Engineer to serve as a subject matter expert supporting plant-driven automation projects across HVAC component manufacturing operations. This role works directly with plant teams to identify practical automation opportunities, assist with proof-of-concept development, support project definition, and provide technical guidance throughout the automation project life cycle.

The position partners with plant Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, IT, and external integrators to help ensure automation solutions are well-defined, technically sound, safe, maintainable, and successfully transitioned into production. This is a plant support and technical advisory role; it supports project execution but does not directly manage capital projects or own project budgets.

Reporting Relationship & Key Interfaces

• Reports to: General Manager of Operations Shared Services or designated corporate operations/engineering leader.

• Key interfaces: Plant Managers; plant Engineering, Maintenance, Controls, and Operations teams; Industrial/Manufacturing/Process Engineering; IT/OT support; Quality; EHS; Finance; Supply Chain/Procurement; external integrators and equipment OEMs.

• Primary locations supported: Corporate-based with regular on-site support at Price Industries HVAC manufacturing plants; travel expected based on active plant needs and automation project activity.

Primary Responsibilities

• Automation SME support: Serve as a corporate technical resource for plant teams evaluating, defining, and implementing automation opportunities in HVAC component manufacturing environments.

• Plant-driven project support: Work directly with plant Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations teams to understand production needs, define automation concepts, document requirements, and support internal alignment before projects move into execution.

• Proof of concept and project definition: Assist with feasibility reviews, process observations, concept layouts, preliminary scope development, equipment requirements, risk identification, and estimated benefits for potential automation projects.

• Integrator and OEM coordination: Support plants in working with external integrators and equipment suppliers by helping review concepts, specifications, proposals, drawings, schedules, controls architecture, and technical assumptions.

• Project life cycle technical support: Provide guidance through design, build, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, startup, validation, troubleshooting, and hand-off while plant leadership or assigned project managers retain project ownership.

• Controls, data, and OT readiness: Partner with plant teams and IT/OT resources to help ensure automation projects consider PLC/HMI requirements, industrial networking, data collection, cybersecurity expectations, access needs, backups, and long-term supportability.

• Safety, reliability, and maintainability: Help plants evaluate machine safety, guarding, interlocks, maintenance access, spare parts, documentation, training needs, and operational readiness before production release.

• Standards and continuous improvement: Capture lessons learned, support development of practical automation standards/templates, share best practices across plants, and identify opportunities to improve automation project consistency and sustainment.

• Technology awareness: Stay current on applicable automation technologies, including robotics, machine vision, material handling, sensing, controls, and data-enabled manufacturing tools that may apply to Price Industries operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Automation, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field; equivalent practical experience considered.

• 3+ years of experience supporting automation, controls, manufacturing engineering, maintenance engineering, or technical project implementation in an industrial environment.

• Working knowledge of industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, actuators, machine controls, industrial networks, and equipment integration concepts.

• Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, startup, or process improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.

• Ability to work with plant teams to translate operational problems into clear automation requirements, practical concepts, and defined implementation needs.

• Experience interacting with integrators, OEMs, contractors, or technical vendors during equipment specification, build, installation, or startup activities.

• Strong communication, documentation, and follow-through skills with the ability to support multiple plant stakeholders without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, HVAC component manufacturing, assembly operations, or similar discrete manufacturing environments.

• Hands-on exposure to robotics, machine vision, automated material handling, fixtures/tooling, error-proofing, or test/inspection automation.

• Familiarity with machine safety practices, risk assessments, guarding, lockout/tagout considerations, and operator-safe equipment design.

• Experience with OT data collection, OEE/downtime tracking, SCADA/MES connectivity, OPC UA, MQTT, or related industrial data tools.

• Lean/continuous improvement experience with the ability to use automation as an enabler for safety, quality, throughput, labor efficiency, and process stability.

Core Competencies

• Hands-on technical credibility with the ability to evaluate automation concepts at the plant floor level.

• Practical problem solving across controls, equipment integration, process flow, safety, reliability, and maintainability.

• Consultative influence: supports and coaches plant teams without owning day-to-day operations or directly managing projects.

• Strong project life cycle awareness, including scope definition, design review, testing, installation, startup, validation, and hand-off.

• Collaborative communication style with the ability to work effectively with operators, maintenance technicians, engineers, plant leaders, IT resources, and external suppliers.

Work Environment

This role involves regular engagement at manufacturing plants and time in industrial environments with moving equipment, active production lines, and equipment installation/startup activity. Travel is expected and will vary based on plant needs, project timing, and commissioning schedules. Occasional off-shift or weekend support may be required during critical installation, startup, troubleshooting, or production ramp-up periods.