ShopFloorJobs
IF

Electrical/Controls Engineer (Athol)

Idaho Forest Group · Athol, MA

Level
Engineer
Team
Controls
Degree
Required
Experience asked
3+ years
Industry
Industrial
Posted
Recently

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level controls role at Idaho Forest Group (industrial) in Athol, MA.

They ask for
3+ years · degree required
Tools it names
PLC, Automation

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

How this role compares

Against 26 other live controls postings in Massachusetts.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $90k–$157k, from 12 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ PLC 74%
  • ✓ Automation 74%
  • Robotics 37%
  • Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 26%
  • Root cause 22%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 3+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone on the team first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Idaho Forest Group

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from Idaho Forest GroupAs posted on their careers site.Show

Position summary

The Electrical/Controls Engineer is an intermediate-level role responsible for independently designing, programming, commissioning, and the continuous improvement of complete control systems for New Product Development initiatives at IFG in the industrial automated manufacturing space. This role requires both strong engineering capability and hands-on field experience.

At this level, the engineer is expected to demonstrate increased technical depth, problem-solving capability, and ownership of assigned scopes of work. Skills include advanced knowledge of Rockwell Automation Software and hardware, programming ladder logic, function blocks, structured text and sequential controls, as well as the knowledge to design and support electrical control systems, low & medium electrical systems & PDC's and the ability to evaluate cost, schedule, and risk impacts. The engineer should be capable of working with minimal supervision and providing technical guidance to technicians and entry-level engineers.

The ideal candidate has experience supporting both new system implementation and existing plant operations and is comfortable working across the full project lifecycle-from control philosophy development and hardware design through startup, tuning, and plant support.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following

  • ◆Support New Product Development initiatives as a solid contributor, leading the detailed design of the Control System
  • ◆Design, develop, and troubleshoot industrial control systems using Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms.
  • ◆Lead and support DCS integration, migration, and modernization projects for process and manufacturing systems
  • ◆Independently develop and modify:
  • ◆PLC logic
  • ◆function block diagrams
  • ◆ladder logic
  • ◆sequential control routines
  • ◆operator interface screens
  • ◆alarm and event strategies
  • ◆historian and data collection interfaces
  • ◆Design, create and maintain control system documentation, including:
  • ◆Control panel layouts
  • ◆I/O lists
  • ◆power and control schematics
  • ◆control narratives
  • ◆cause-and-effect matrices
  • ◆loop sheets
  • ◆network architecture drawings
  • ◆P&IDs markups
  • ◆FAT/SAT and commissioning documents
  • ◆Independently design, implement and support Electrical Systems and associated documentation including:
  • ◆MCCs and motor starters
  • ◆VFDs and soft starters
  • ◆Medium & lowvoltage power distribution systems (PDC's)
  • ◆Configure and support industrial communications such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, serial Modbus, OPC, and other plant network protocols
  • ◆Work closely with operations, maintenance, process engineering, and electricians to improve system reliability, safety, and performance
  • ◆Support plant startups, shutdowns, and commissioning activities
  • ◆Assist with alarm rationalization, process tuning, interlock verification, and control strategy optimization
  • ◆Participate in management of change (MOC), PSSR, and process safety reviews where applicable

Required qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor's degree or higher in one of the following:
  • ✓Electrical Engineering
  • ✓Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • ✓Dual majors or emphasis in Controls Engineering
  • ✓Associate's degree in Instrumentation or Automation Controls Systems Engineering or related technical field combined with equivalent industrial experience strongly considered.
  • ✓3+ years of experience as an engineer or other relevant work experience
  • ✓Valid driver's license
  • ✓Ability to pass a hair follicle drug test, post-offer pre-employment physical, and background check.

Preferred qualifications

  • ✓4 - 6+ years of experience as an engineer or other relevant work experience
  • ✓Rockwell Automation PlantPAx Experience
  • ✓Solid Wood manufacturing experience
  • ✓New Product Development experience
Show full description ↓

Description

Physical demands

Ability to sit and/or stand for shift, reach with hands and arms, stoop, squat, bend at the waist, kneel, walk varying distance, and climb stairs.

  • •Bend at waist - occasional
  • •Twist upper body - occasional
  • •Stoop - occasional
  • •Repetitive use of hands - frequent for clerical duties
  • •Stand/walk
  • •Sit/desk - frequent
  • •Vision - near and far correctable; depth perception
  • •Hearing - preferred for awareness of surrounding machinery, mobile equipment, emergencies

Work environment

Must be able to tolerate all weather elements, loud conditions, airborne particles (sawdust).

More Controls roles nearby