Senior Process Control Engineer

Where you will work

Lewiston is Clearwater Paper's original manufacturing facility and home to nearly 700 dedicated team members who power our site. Together, we make paperboard used in products across the United States, including food packaging, plates, cups and more. Home to the first mill that produced poster board from wood waste, the site currently operates two paper machines, two extruders, two power boilers and two recovery boilers. Located where the Snake and Clearwater rivers meet on the Idaho-Washington border, Lewiston offers an active outdoor lifecycle with easy access to fishing, boating, hiking and camping. The region's milder climate means more rain than snow in the winter and long, sunny days in the summer.

Living here means you'll be close to Lewis-Clark State College, University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Walla Walla Community College, as well as strong local K-12 school districts.

What you will do

The Senior Process Control Engineer is responsible for process improvement/optimization, product development, quality, and process support.

Process Control Systems and Performance Integrity

• Maintain integrity and performance of systems, process controls, plant historian and networks
• Provide direct hands-on on-call support on rotating 24x7 basis
• Respond to calls for control system hardware malfunctions and repair those malfunctions, including control system processors, control system i/o sub systems and Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems
• Respond to calls for control system software problems and repair those problems including loop configuration, graphics configuration, and timing issues
• Respond to calls for problems calibrating or setting up field instruments, valves and motors
• Respond to calls for process network infrastructure problems and repair those problems, including problems with switches, fiber optic converters, cabling and power distribution
• Add and modify data history collection parameters to optimize information available vs space requirements
• Plan and implement timely upgrades and maintenance
• Test bandwidth and network loading

Manage Equipment and Vendors

• Support the efforts of other engineers, sub-contractors, bargaining unit personnel and temporary workers to accomplish the necessary control systems work
• Purchase required equipment
• Assist in development of implementation plans for installation of equipment
• Monitor vendor and employee implementation
• Supervise testing of installed equipment to guarantee adequate performance
• Evaluate vendor implementation plans for installation of equipment
• Evaluate vendor proposals
• Obtain price quotes for equipment
• Generate JD Edwards purchase orders

Design, implement, and/or program DCS/PLC and other control systems

• Design, implement and/or program DCS/PLC and other control systems
• Develop and implement new additions or enhancements to process control systems within systems standards
• Add new loops in DeltaV
• Add and modify PLC ladder logic for Allen Bradley systems
• Configure OPC servers for cross system communication
• Design and implement security systems
• Solicit proposals for upgrades or migrations from out of date or poorly functioning systems
• Create and implement advanced process control systems (APC)
• Evaluate advanced process control proposals
• Configure historical collection systems
• Add advanced control to existing loops
• Create simulation system for testing control systems
• Test implementations to guarantee adequate performance
• Build custom serial cables for custom interface requirements
• Design and implement interfaces between various systems
• Assure proper functioning of version control software

Perform system administrator functions

• Perform system administrator functions on the process networks providing security protection procedures updates and backup of software and data as required
• Backup DCS database and verify restore
• Design and implement backup servers for mission critical roles
• Configure firewalls and DMZ to protect control networks
• Install Windows and VMS operating systems
• Update software versions for Rockwell and DeltaV systems, including updating servers, workstations, and operator stations
• Install patches on Windows servers

Develop standards and procedures

• Develops standards and procedures to perform various functions on systems and review work of engineers, vendors and contractors for compliance with and adherence to standards
• Develop interlock standards
• Verify compliance with interlock standards
• Develop tag naming and wire labelling standards
• Verify compliance with tag naming and wire labelling standards
• Develop graphics and module creation standards
• Verify compliance with Graphics standards
• Verify compliance with module creation standards

Training

• Train others in proper, effective use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of systems and networks
• Determine and attend relevant training to advance personal knowledge in subject areas to benefit process control and optimization
• Determine training needs and schedule training classes for employees
• Train hourly employees in the use of Allen Bradley, DeltaV configuration and diagnostic software if applicable
• Train hourly employees to find root cause of control system problems
• Train instrument mechanics on use of AMS
• Train hourly employees in the use of maintenance tracking software

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Actively seeks and allocates appropriate decision-making authority or task responsibility to appropriate individuals based on their abilities, availability, motivation, and development needs; considers potential positive and negative impact, business unit priorities, organizational values, and the opportunity to enhance others' knowledge and skills
• Identifies barriers that impact customer service and retention; communicates concerns and recommendations to others
• Uses understanding of customer needs and the organization's customer service practices to set priorities, make decisions, and take actions that create customer satisfaction and prevent service issues from occurring
• Creates relevant options for addressing problems and opportunities that will achieve desired outcomes
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results

What you will need

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, EET or a related engineering field required
• 5+ years of relevant process control systems experience required
• 5+ years of operational experience preferred
• 5+ years drive configuration experience required
• Paper Machine Coordinated drives experience preferred
• SEL 12kv system configuration preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• AutoCAD experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with vendors, managers, and production employees to achieve goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of managing Process Safety Management programs
• Must be capable of understanding and troubleshooting complex industrial systems and equipment
• Understanding of LEAN manufacturing and Continuous Improvement (CI) concepts preferred
• High speed manufacturing environment, sustained exposure to high frequency noises, multiple hours standing, walking on concrete surfaces
• Personal Protective Equipment required in mill environment
• Dirt, noise, odor, and temperature extremes
• Climbing stairs, ladders, and scaffolding
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing process

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. This position is eligible for our Incentive Plan. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data. Actual offers account for internal equity and candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience, and geographic location. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off will include vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

#ClearwaterPaper #Lewiston

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.