***This job has preference to qualified local job seekers within 60 miles of Axis Gainesville, TX facility.
The PLC/Controls Programmer will design, program, test, commission, and support Siemens-based control systems for advanced oilfield equipment. The position is responsible for Siemens TIA Portal PLC programming, HMI development, CANopen and J1939 communications, VFD and motor control, distributed I/O, hydraulic system integration, machine sequencing, diagnostics, alarms, and equipment protection logic.
The successful candidate must be capable of taking a controls project from functional requirements and electrical schematics through program development, FAT, field commissioning, troubleshooting, and final documentation. Strong hands-on experience with complex mobile machinery, drawworks, VFDs, encoders, braking systems, industrial CAN networks, and safety-system interfaces is preferred.
The System Programmer is responsible for the design, development, installation, and ongoing support of programmable logic controller (PLC) systems within industrial and manufacturing environments. This position demands proficiency in PLC programming languages, an in-depth understanding of automation processes, and the capacity to troubleshoot complex control systems. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, analytical acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance and maintain automated production systems.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Design, develop, program, test, commission, and support Siemens PLC control systems for mobile oilfield, well-servicing, and other heavy industrial equipment.
- Develop PLC applications using Siemens TIA Portal, including Ladder Logic (LAD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), and Structured Text/SCL.
- Develop a structured and reusable PLC software architecture using function blocks (FB), functions (FC), data blocks (DB), and user-defined data types (UDT) to support standardized equipment platforms.
- Integrate CANopen and SAE J1939 communications between the Siemens PLC and engines, generators, VFDs, distributed I/O, hydraulic systems, and other intelligent field devices.
- Configure and troubleshoot CAN networks, including node addressing, baud rates, PDO/SDO communication, J1939 PGN/SPN data, heartbeat monitoring, communication timeouts, and network diagnostics.
- Develop VFD and motor-control logic, including drive enable, speed and torque commands, control/status words, operating feedback, fault handling, reset sequences, and drive diagnostics.
- Develop and maintain drawworks control logic, including hoist/lower commands, joystick control, brake sequencing, encoder feedback, speed monitoring, position calculations, crown/floor limits, slowdown zones, and machine protection.
- Develop PLC interfaces for hydraulic control systems, including pump operation, pressure and temperature monitoring, valve control, permissives, interlocks, and fault conditions.
- Integrate distributed CAN I/O systems, including digital and analog inputs/outputs, scaling, calibration, signal validation, communication monitoring, and node diagnostics.
- Develop comprehensive alarm, warning, interlock, permissive, and diagnostic logic that enables operators and technicians to quickly identify the cause of equipment faults.
- Design control logic so equipment responds predictably to abnormal conditions such as loss of CAN communication, VFD faults, encoder failures, loss of hydraulic pressure, invalid sensor signals, and loss of equipment feedback.
- Interface standard PLC controls with independent machine safety systems, including E-Stop, STO, emergency shutdown, braking, and other safety-related circuits, while maintaining appropriate separation between standard control functions and safety functions.
- Develop and maintain HMI applications for equipment operation, status indication, alarm management, diagnostics, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- Review and interpret electrical schematics, hydraulic schematics, I/O lists, network drawings, equipment specifications, VFD documentation, CAN databases, and machine operating requirements to develop the control program.
- Work directly with electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, manufacturing, field-service, and operations personnel to establish machine sequences, operating requirements, interlocks, permissives, and fault responses.
- Perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of PLC, HMI, CAN, VFD, I/O, instrumentation, alarms, interlocks, and machine-control functions before equipment deployment.
- Support field commissioning and startup, including PLC troubleshooting, CAN network diagnostics, VFD configuration, I/O verification, calibration, parameter adjustments, and resolution of field issues.
- Perform systematic troubleshooting using TIA Portal online diagnostics, watch/monitor tables, traces, device diagnostics, CAN diagnostic tools, electrical drawings, and field measurements.
- Maintain controlled software versions, backups, parameter sets, network configurations, and documented changes to PLC and HMI applications.
- Produce complete technical documentation, including PLC functional descriptions, I/O lists, alarm/interlock matrices, CAN signal maps, network architecture, operating sequences, test procedures, and commissioning records.
- Provide technical support and training to field technicians, commissioning personnel, maintenance teams, and equipment operators.
- Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, diagnostics, standardization, serviceability, and overall machine performance.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Science, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
- 3-5 years of direct experience in PLC programming and industrial automation within a manufacturing or process environment is required.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Siemens TIA Portal programming, including Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, and Structured Text/SCL, with hands-on experience developing reusable FB/FC/DB/UDT architectures. Candidate should demonstrate practical experience integrating CANopen and SAE J1939 devices, VFDs, distributed I/O, encoders, HMIs, industrial communication networks, machine sequencing, diagnostics, alarms, and fault handling. Experience developing and commissioning safety-critical industrial machinery, including E-Stop, STO, braking, permissive, interlock, and fail-safe control interfaces, is strongly preferred.
- Experience with industrial networks such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, and DeviceNet.
- Familiarity with HMI and SCADA development tools and interfaces.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and technical drawings.
- Strong troubleshooting capabilities with respect to electrical and automation systems.
Soft Skills:
- Superior problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration and documentation.
- Ability to work collaboratively within teams and interact professionally with engineers, technicians, operators, and management.
- Capacity to manage multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
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