Senior Controls/Automation Engineer
Itron · South Carolina
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Itron (industrial) in South Carolina. Design, develop, install, qualify, and sustain manufacturing equipment and automated assembly systems to support the profitable manufacturing of electricity meters, gas meters, network products, and battery-powered devices (BPD).
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, OEE, Root cause, FMEA, Control plans, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 17 other live controls postings in South Carolina.
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 78%
- ✓ Automation 78%
- Team leadership 39%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 39%
- ✓ Root cause 33%
- ✓ Robotics 28%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for FMEA, Power BI / Tableau, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
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
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Itron
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 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
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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
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 ItronAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Design, develop, install, qualify, and sustain manufacturing equipment and automated assembly systems to support the profitable manufacturing of electricity meters, gas meters, network products, and battery-powered devices (BPD).
- ◆Lead mechanical design efforts including concept development, CAD modeling and analysis, DFMEA/PFMEA/MFMEA support, fabrication, assembly, installation, and qualification of manufacturing equipment and tooling.
- ◆Develop, integrate, and support industrial automation solutions utilizing industrial robots (FANUC, Stäubli, etc.), PLCs (Allen Bradley, Beckhoff, etc.), vision systems (Cognex, FANUC iRVision), safety systems, and material handling equipment.
- ◆Own the full equipment lifecycle including specifications, supplier engagement, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, validation, and handoff to Operations.
- ◆Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), improve First Pass Yield (FPY), and reduce Scrap and Rework to reduce Total Manufacturing Cost (TMC) through analysis of equipment performance, downtime, cycle time, and failure modes, implementing sustainable corrective actions.
- ◆Provide onsite and remote technical support to troubleshoot equipment, automation systems, and mechanical issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring stable production.
- ◆Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation including equipment specifications, drawings, schematics, risk assessments, work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), preventative maintenance schedules, and control plans.
- ◆Mentor junior manufacturing engineers and technicians, providing guidance on mechanical design, automation best practices, troubleshooting, and structured problem-solving.
- ◆Utilize manufacturing data (including MS-SQL databases, Power BI dashboards) to generate reports, identify issues, and drive data-driven continuous improvement initiatives.
- ◆Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to support New Product Introduction (NPI), representing Manufacturing Engineering throughout the Product Lifecycle (PLC).
- ◆Deploy Lean manufacturing principles and tools to drive daily accountability on critical KPIs – Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, and Productivity (SQDIP).
Required Skills & Experience
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- ✓5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high‑volume production environments, with hands‑on involvement in equipment design, industrial automation, and system integration.
- ✓Strong mechanical engineering background, including CAD design (PTC Creo, SolidWorks), machine design principles, equipment build/debug, testing, and troubleshooting.
- ✓Proven experience with industrial automation systems including robots (FANUC, Stäubli), PLCs (Allen‑Bradley), vision systems (Cognex), safety systems, and integration of sensors, actuators, and tooling.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to analyze complex manufacturing problems, identify root causes, and implement solutions that improve OEE, reduce cycle time, and lower manufacturing costs.
- ✓Strong communication, leadership, and mentorship skills, with experience coaching and developing less‑experienced engineers.
Preferred Skills & Experience
- ✓Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
- ✓Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement tools, and structured problem‑solving methodologies (e.g., A3, 8‑D).
- ✓Project management experience.
- ✓Experience working with external equipment suppliers, system integrators, and cross‑functional teams.
- ✓Experience working with manufacturing data systems, performance dashboards, or analytical tools used to monitor equipment and operational KPIs.
Travel: 1 - 10%
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.
As a Senior Controls/Automation Engineer working for the Manufacturing Engineering team at Itron in West Union, SC, you will lead the design, development, deployment, and optimization of manufacturing equipment and automated assembly systems to enable the profitable manufacturing of electricity meters, gas meters, network products, and battery-powered devices. You will apply mechanical engineering fundamentals and industrial automation expertise to design robust manufacturing solutions, improve equipment performance, and reduce total manufacturing cost (TMC). You will also provide technical leadership through hands-on troubleshooting, cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship of junior engineers and co-ops, ensuring sustainable long-term manufacturing capability.
Benefits Info
This position also includes a competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs, paid vacation, 401k matching, employee stock purchase program, and more!
Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees. If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for!
The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.
Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insigh