Automation Engineer

Tuwaiq Casting & Forging is seeking a skilled and technically advanced Automation Engineer to join the Maintenance Department. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, this role works at a professional level handling the engineering review, design, and analysis of control systems and information technologies across the entire facility. The Automation Engineer serves as the subject matter expert for melting, casting, forging, heat treatment, machining, and utilities automation systems, and is responsible for implementing best practices, strategies, and methods to increase overall equipment effectiveness. Key Responsibilities Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) - Adhere to EHS regulations and guidelines and maintain a safe working environment at all times - Follow EHSS safety standards, prepare Risk Assessments (RA) and Job Safety Analyses (JSA), and maintain safe performance of all work - Maintain safety interlocks, alarms, and emergency shutdown systems, and ensure automation systems comply with applicable safety standards and regulations - Contribute to reporting near misses and incidents, and participate in HAZOP studies, site inspections, audits, and investigations - Maintain the workplace clean and tidy at all times in line with company standards. Engineering & Maintenance Support - Support the alignment, implementation, and technical delivery of the operational reliability level specified for the facility - Assist the maintenance department in implementing the site-wide maintenance strategy, incorporating lessons learned - Provide advanced troubleshooting capabilities to resolve complex technical problems and restore systems and equipment to operational condition - Serve as the focal point for plant automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and VFDs, and maintain programme and parameter backups for all such systems - Assist with maintenance, emergency repairs, and inspections, and provide technical automation support to maintenance supervisors and technicians as assigned - Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware and software faults; minimise downtime by responding promptly to plant and equipment failures to maintain high availability and reliability of control systems and their networks - Optimise control logics to improve plant efficiency and identify opportunities for automation improvements - Provide recommendations for preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance for facility automation systems, and monitor and administer the execution of preventive maintenance plans - Participate in site inspections and safety, quality, or production investigations as assigned - Collect and analyse engineering data, evaluate conceptual engineering plans, and prepare and assess designs and plans in accordance with specifications - Conduct Bad Actor and chronic Failure Elimination and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) studies as required, and follow up on the implementation of recommendations with concerned parties - Review and ensure technical proposals for outsourced automation maintenance services include a clear scope of work; oversee automation maintenance services - Ensure that data, drawings, and documentation received from project contractors and vendors are complete and in accordance with contract specifications - Review and assist in reliability methodologies including RCM, RBI, and RIS; assign equipment criticality rankings, perform failure analysis, and recommend mitigation strategies - Work closely with area engineers, maintenance supervisors, and planners to ensure each automation system has a maintenance plan and that required spare parts are ordered and stocked - Attend supplier automation integration tests, participate in factory acceptance tests, and support site-based commissioning of automation equipment and systems - Propose revamping and CAPEX projects, prepare scopes of work and specifications to improve facility and equipment availability, and participate in reviewing, supervising, and implementing approved projects - Follow Management of Change (MOC) procedures for all system or programme modifications, and record maintenance activities and system changes - Implement 5S, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean Manufacturing (LM), and Reliability Excellence (REX) for automation across the facility. HR, Leadership, Training & Coaching - Provide on-site, hands-on mentorship to newly hired automation and electrical engineers and technicians, including training, coaching, and guidance on work control and maintenance processes - Assist with the recruitment of experienced and competent engineers, maintenance supervisors, and technicians - Prepare and deliver training courses on automation systems to maintenance team members to improve skills across operations, engineering, and maintenance functions - Develop and maintain effective and positive relationships with a wide range of personnel. Reports Generation - Support the establishment and implementation of maintenance work control and performance moni

Adhere to EHS regulations; maintain safe working environment; perform risk assessments and JSA; maintain safety interlocks, alarms, and emergency shutdown systems; participate in HAZOPs, site inspections, audits, and investigations; support reliability and maintenance strategies; provide advanced troubleshooting for automation systems; act as focal point for plant automation (PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, VFDs) with backups; assist with maintenance, emergency repairs, and inspections; diagnose and troubleshoot hardware/software faults to minimize downtime; optimize control logic to improve plant efficiency; provide preventive/predictive/corrective maintenance recommendations; participate in inspections and investigations; collect/analyze engineering data and assess designs; perform RCA studies; review proposals and oversee outsourced automation maintenance; ensure documentation and contracts compliance; contribute to reliability methodologies (RCM/RBI/RIS); coordinate with engineers and planners for maintenance plans and spares; participate in supplier integration tests and commissioning; propose CAPEX projects and oversee approved projects; follow MOC procedures; implement 5S, TPM, Lean, and REL for automation; mentor and train automation staff; assist with recruitment and training; deliver training to maintenance team; maintain positive relationships across operations and maintenance.