Automation Engineer

About the Role

Baja is seeking an Automation Engineer to join its team in Hawtat Sudair, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position is designed to support the Maintenance and Engineering departments in the upkeep, troubleshooting, and enhancement of industrial automation systems and production equipment. The role offers an opportunity to develop practical experience across various automation technologies while contributing to preventive maintenance and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Support troubleshooting of PLC, HMI, VFD, servo drives, sensors, and control systems.
• Assist senior engineers and technicians during machine breakdowns and corrective maintenance.
• Support preventive maintenance activities for automation and control equipment.
• Assist with PLC and HMI program backups, documentation, and version control.
• Monitor and maintain automation-related parameters and machine settings.
• Support troubleshooting communication issues between PLCs, HMIs, drives, and field devices.
• Assist in identifying recurring automation failures and participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Support machine commissioning, testing, and modification activities.
• Assist with automation improvement projects aimed at enhancing OEE, reliability, and machine performance.
• Maintain updated records of PLC/HMI programs, electrical drawings, parameters, and technical documentation.
• Support interaction with OEMs and external suppliers during technical troubleshooting.
• Participate in machine inspections and identify potential automation-related improvement opportunities.
• Adhere to all LOTO, electrical safety, and factory safety procedures.
• Provide technical support to maintenance technicians when required.
• Learn and apply the factory's CMMS/EAM system for maintenance activities and equipment history.

Technical Development Areas

The Automation Engineer will be expected to develop competency in the following technical areas:

• PLC programming and troubleshooting
• HMI systems
• VFDs and servo drives
• Industrial sensors and instrumentation
• Pneumatic control systems
• Electrical control panels
• Industrial communication networks
• SCADA systems
• Machine safety systems
• PLC/HMI software backup and restoration
• Basic electrical drawings and control schematics
• CMMS/EAM systems

First-Year Development Objectives

During the first year, the engineer should progressively become able to:

1. Troubleshoot basic PLC/HMI faults independently.
2. Perform PLC/HMI backups and maintain software records.
3. Troubleshoot basic VFD and sensor-related failures.
4. Read and understand electrical control drawings.
5. Support machine commissioning and modification activities.
6. Participate in RCA for recurring automation failures.
7. Understand the factory's major production and packaging lines.
8. Use the CMMS/EAM system correctly.
9. Develop basic PLC/HMI programming skills.
10. Support automation improvement projects that contribute to downtime reduction and OEE improvement.

Qualifications and Reporting

This role is suitable for candidates with 0-1 years of experience in a relevant field. The Automation Engineer will report directly to the Maintenance Manager.

Performance Metrics

Performance in this role will be assessed based on key indicators, including:

• Automation-related breakdown response time
• Completion of PLC/HMI backup activities
• Preventive maintenance compliance
• Number of recurring automation/system failures reduced
• Automation improvement projects completed
• Reduction in automation-related downtime
• CMMS/EAM data accuracy
• Completion of assigned training and competency development