Siemens PLC & HMI/SCADA Specialist
Department: Equipment/ maintenance
Company / Location: WorldWise Plastics (WWP) - Minth Group / Lewisburg, TN
Reports To: Maintenance Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time / Exempt (subject to classification review)
About Company
Minth Group is a global automotive supplier specializing in exterior and structural automotive components, serving automotive OEMs through advanced manufacturing technologies and operational excellence.
Job Summary
The Controls Engineer designs, programs, troubleshoots, maintains, and optimizes industrial automation systems in a high-volume Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment. The role requires proficiency in Siemens SIMATIC PLCs, TIA Portal, STEP 7, and WinCC HMI/SCADA, supporting production equipment, new installations, reliability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Siemens PLC Programming & Automation Controls
- Develop, program, troubleshoot, and maintain Siemens SIMATIC S7-1200, S7-1500, and applicable legacy S7-300/S7-400 PLC systems.
- Use TIA Portal and STEP 7 for Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, and Structured Control Language (SCL).
- Diagnose PLC hardware, software, I/O, and communication faults; maintain program backups, version control, and change documentation.
- Support commissioning, validation, and integration of automated manufacturing equipment.
HMI & SCADA Systems
- Design, configure, troubleshoot, and maintain Siemens WinCC HMI and SCADA applications.
- Develop operator interfaces, alarms, status displays, and production monitoring screens.
- Integrate PLC and HMI/SCADA systems for reliable real-time equipment and process information.
Automotive Manufacturing & Production Support
- Support controls for injection molding, painting, chroming, assembly, and material-handling operations.
- Troubleshoot automated lines, sensors, actuators, servo drives, VFDs, and control components.
- Coordinate with Maintenance and Production to resolve downtime, cycle-time losses, and recurring faults while meeting OEM delivery objectives.
Industrial Networking & Systems Integration
- Configure and troubleshoot PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Industrial Ethernet, and applicable OPC UA interfaces.
- Integrate PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O, drives, sensors, and MES or production monitoring systems.
- Maintain accurate network configurations and control-system architecture documentation.
Equipment Installation, Commissioning & Project Support
- Support design, installation, commissioning, startup, and validation of automated equipment.
- Review electrical schematics, control panel designs, and equipment specifications.
- Coordinate with vendors and integrators on FAT, SAT, new product launches, and engineering changes.
Continuous Improvement & Equipment Reliability
- Improve machine uptime, cycle time, OEE, and automation performance.
- Perform root cause analysis of recurring failures and implement approved corrective actions.
- Support preventive and predictive maintenance, Lean, 5S, and Kaizen initiatives.
Quality, Safety & Automotive Compliance
- Support IATF 16949-aligned processes, customer requirements, error-proofing, traceability, and production quality monitoring.
- Follow OSHA, Lockout/Tagout, and applicable machine safety standards.
- Support safety PLCs, interlocks, emergency stops, guarding, and validated engineering changes.
Technical Documentation & Cross-Functional Support
- Maintain PLC programs, HMI configurations, electrical drawings, and troubleshooting records.
- Develop troubleshooting guides and train Maintenance Technicians, Electricians, and Production personnel.
- Communicate technical risks, project status, and corrective actions to Engineering and plant leadership.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, or Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent technical education and substantial relevant experience.
- 3-5 years of industrial automation, PLC programming, or controls engineering experience.
- Hands-on Siemens SIMATIC PLC programming and troubleshooting; proficiency with TIA Portal, STEP 7, and WinCC.
- Understanding of electrical controls, sensors, actuators, motor controls, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, and Industrial Ethernet.
- Ability to read electrical schematics and independently diagnose complex manufacturing automation problems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Tier 1 automotive supplier or OEM experience; injection molding, painting, chroming, or automated assembly experience.
- Advanced Siemens S7-1500, WinCC Unified/Professional, SINAMICS, motion control, and industrial robotics experience.
- Familiarity with IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, OEE, MES, and Industry 4.0 systems.
- Machine safety and safety PLC experience.
Safety Requirements
- Follow company policies, OSHA requirements, and Lockout/Tagout procedures.
- Use required PPE and report unsafe equipment or electrical conditions.
- Validate control changes to protect machine safeguards and personnel.
Physical Requirements
- Stand, walk, bend, kneel, and access equipment and control cabinets safely.
- Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds with assistance as appropriate.
- Use programming and electrical diagnostic tools in active production environments.
Work Conditions
- Fast-paced Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment with machinery, noise, and automated equipment.
- Occasional evenings, weekends, overtime, shutdown, and launch support as needed.
Equal Opportunity Employer
WorldWise Plastics provides equal employment opportunities without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.