Job DescriptionPosition Summary:We are seeking a hands-on Automation Engineering Coordinator for Quench & Temper and Finishing operations at our Fairfield, Alabama facility. This role is responsible for leading automation strategy, controls execution, equipment integration, and technical support for new and existing manufacturing systems across Quench & Temper, Finishing, IPS (Internal Processing Storage), and related inspection and production areas.
The Automation Engineering Coordinator will support capital project startup, commissioning, stabilization, and long-term operational performance by ensuring automation systems, PLC/HMI platforms, drives, sensors, data collection tools, safety systems, and control logic are designed, integrated, and maintained to meet production, quality, reliability, and safety requirements.
This role will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, IT, vendors, contractors, and plant leadership to ensure automation solutions are aligned with the existing industrial footprint while enabling future growth, improved process capability, and sustained operational excellence.
Responsibilities:- Lead automation engineering strategy and execution for Quench & Temper, Finishing Floor #3, IPS (Internal Processing Storage), and related integration with existing plant equipment and control systems.
- Provide technical leadership for PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, vision systems, sensors, machine controls, safety systems, data collection, and industrial networks supporting manufacturing operations.
- Oversee automation design, programming, commissioning, troubleshooting, validation, and continuous improvement activities for new and existing equipment.
- Support Quench & Temper and Finishing capital projects through design reviews, vendor coordination, FAT/SAT (Factory Acceptance Testing/Site Acceptance Testing), installation, commissioning, startup, punch-list resolution, and turnover to Operations.
- Ensure new automation systems are integrated with existing equipment, process controls, production reporting, quality systems, maintenance practices, and plant infrastructure.
- Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability, process stability, throughput, safety, product quality, and operational performance.
- Lead root cause analysis and provide technical direction during complex automation, controls, electrical, instrumentation, robotics, and equipment interface issues.
- Develop and maintain automation standards, documentation, change management practices, troubleshooting guides, and technical procedures for supported systems.
- Build and develop automation engineering capability across the team by coaching technical resources, supporting knowledge transfer, and strengthening plant-level controls expertise.
- Partner with IT and cybersecurity resources to ensure automation networks, industrial devices, access controls, backups, and system changes align with company requirements.
- Collaborate with Quality, Process Engineering, and Operations to support process capability, data integrity, measurement systems, product traceability, and customer specification requirements.
- Identify automation, digital, and data-driven improvement opportunities that support safer operations, reduced downtime, improved yield, and more consistent execution.
- Communicate project readiness, automation risks, technical issues, corrective actions, and implementation status to plant leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Promote a strong safety culture and ensure automation work complies with all safety, environmental, quality, regulatory, and operational requirements.
Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation, Controls, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent relevant automation, controls, or manufacturing experience may be considered.
- 7+ years of manufacturing automation, controls engineering, electrical engineering, process automation, or related heavy industrial experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading automation projects, technical teams, vendors, contractors, or cross-functional resources in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong hands-on experience with PLC/HMI programming, industrial controls, drives, instrumentation, machine interfaces, sensors, robotics, industrial networks, and troubleshooting automated equipment.
- Experience supporting capital projects, equipment installation, commissioning, startup, stabilization, and transition-to-operations activities.
- Ability to connect automation requirements to business outcomes, including safety, quality, production reliability, equipment performance, process capability, and customer requirements.
- Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, project management, change management, and execution discipline.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage hourly employees, front-line leaders, technical teams, contractors, vendors, and senior leadership.
- Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment, including outages, startups, off-shift troubleshooting, and urgent business needs as required.
- Demonstrated commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, quality, cybersecurity, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Preferred but Not Required Experience:- Experience supporting Quench & Temper, finishing, heat treat, tubular products, OCTG, seamless pipe, inspection, threading, or heavy industrial manufacturing operations.
- Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Rockwell Automation, safety PLCs, variable frequency drives, servo systems, industrial robotics, machine vision, or related automation platforms.
- Experience integrating automation systems with manufacturing execution systems, PI systems, data historians, quality databases, production reporting, or digital dashboards.
- Knowledge of industrial electrical systems, instrumentation, control panels, network architecture, OT cybersecurity, backup/recovery practices, and change control expectations.
- Experience with vendor management, scope development, capital planning, technical specifications, construction support, commissioning plans, and operational readiness activities.
- Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma, SPC (Statistical Process Control), process capability analysis, reliability-centered maintenance, standard work, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience developing technical training, troubleshooting guides, qualification expectations, and knowledge transfer plans for operations and maintenance teams.
- Experience working effectively with represented employees, engineering resources, maintenance teams, operations leaders, contractors, vendors, and cross-functional business partners.
Competency SummaryAt U. S. Steel all employees are expected to display the following core competencies every day to advance corporate, team and individual goals:
Think: Think Critically and Drive Change
Lead: Develop Talent and Collaborate
Do: Empower Performance and Deliver Results
