Freelance Internship Automation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description:Position Summary

Provides engineering support for plant automation, process control, instrumentation, and industrial control systems across manufacturing operations.

Responsible for supporting, troubleshooting, maintaining, and improving DCS, PLC, HMI, historian, SIS, and industrial communication systems to improve plant safety, operational performance, equipment availability, and production efficiency.

Supports daily plant operations, outage activities, system upgrades, and automation-related capital projects while working closely with operations, maintenance, E/I technicians, and engineering personnel.

Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesAutomation & Control System Support

· Provide day-to-day engineering support for plant automation and process control systems

· Troubleshoot and resolve control system, instrumentation, and industrial network issues impacting plant operations

· Maintain and improve DCS, PLC, HMI, SCADA, historian, and industrial communication systems

· Support lifecycle management, upgrades, migrations, backups, and modernization of automation infrastructure

· Maintain control system documentation, logic backups, network drawings, and configuration records

· Support industrial control system cybersecurity initiatives and network segmentation strategies

· Provide after-hours and outage support for critical operational issues when required

Process Control & Operations Support

· Identify and implement control system improvements that improve safety, throughput, efficiency, and product quality

· Analyze operational and historian data to identify process and system improvement opportunities

· Support control loop tuning, sequencing improvements, alarm management, and operational optimization

· Assist operations and maintenance teams with troubleshooting and startup activities

· Maintain and improve plant historian systems including AVEVA PI and associated interfaces

Management of Change (MoC)

· Lead or participate in Management of Change activities involving automation, instrumentation, and control system modifications

· Ensure changes comply with plant safety, environmental, operational, and cybersecurity requirements

· Coordinate implementation activities with operations, maintenance, engineering, and contractors

· Maintain accurate engineering documentation associated with system changes

· Projects & System Improvements

· Support automation and controls projects from concept through startup and commissioning

· Assist with development of project scopes, technical specifications, schedules, and budgets

· Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup activities

· Coordinate with contractors, vendors, and internal departments during project execution

· Support plant outage and turnaround activities related to automation systems

Training & Technical Support

· Provide technical guidance and support for operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel

· Assist with development and delivery of training related to automation systems and operational changes

· Support development and standardization of plant automation practices and procedures

Preferred Technical Experience

· ABB DCS systems

· Allen-Bradley PLC systems including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PLC-5, and SLC-500

· Triconex safety instrumented systems

· FactoryTalk View HMI/SCADA systems

· AVEVA PI Historian and associated interfaces

· Industrial networking including Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, fiber infrastructure, and managed switches

· Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and motor control systems

· Process instrumentation including transmitters, analyzers, control valves, and field devices

· OPC communications and industrial data integration systems

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in heavy industrial, chemical, refining, mining, power generation, or manufacturing environments

· Experience supporting operating plant control systems

· Familiarity with Management of Change (MoC) processes

· Internship, co-op, or project experience involving industrial automation systems

ISA or related technical certifications are a plus

· Analyze operational and historian data to identify process and system improvement opportunities

· Support control loop tuning, sequencing improvements, alarm management, and operational optimization

· Assist operations and maintenance teams with troubleshooting and startup activities

· Maintain and improve plant historian systems including AVEVA PI and associated interfaces

Management of Change (MoC)

· Lead or participate in Management of Change activities involving automation, instrumentation, and control system modifications

· Ensure changes comply with plant safety, environmental, operational, and cybersecurity requirements

· Coordinate implementation activities with operations, maintenance, engineering, and contractors

· Maintain accurate engineering documentation associated with system changes

· Projects & System Improvements

· Support automation and controls projects from concept through startup and commissioning

· Assist with development of project scopes, technical specifications, schedules, and budgets

· Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup activities

· Coordinate with contractors, vendors, and internal departments during project execution

· Support plant outage and turnaround activities related to automation systems

Training & Technical Support

· Provide technical guidance and support for operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel

· Assist with development and delivery of training related to automation systems and operational changes

· Support development and standardization of plant automation practices and procedures

Work Environment

· Industrial manufacturing/process plant environment

· Combination of field work and office/computer work

· Exposure to heat, noise, dust, vibration, and outdoor weather conditions

· May require callouts, overtime, or outage support as needed

Requirements:Required Qualifications

• · Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering discipline·
• 2–5 years of automation, controls, or process control experience in an industrial environment·
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical critical thinking skills·
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, P&IDs, loop drawings, and control schematics·
• Effective communication and organizational skills· Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds·
• Ability to work in confined or tight spaces·
• Frequent walking, standing, bending, and use of hand tools·
• Ability to wear required PPE including FR clothing, hard hat, respirator, and safety harness when required