Job DescriptionU. S. Steel Tubular Products delivers high quality seamless pipe that powers America's energy market and supports multiple industries across the USA. Backed by more than a century of steelmaking and now part of the third largest steel company in the world, U. S. Steel Tubular Products represents a culture of innovation, builds premium connections, and partners with customers to tackle their toughest challenges, keeping energy and industry moving forward.
Position 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.
Company OverviewSince 1901, U. S. Steel has been a recognized leader in steel production. Today, as the first North American steel company to have declared a 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, we remain as innovative as ever, leading transformation across our industry while continuing to make products for everyday life - from industries as far ranging as automotive, construction, containers and packaging, appliances, and energy.
Underneath it all is our Culture of Caring, which shows up in our community partnerships, charitable contributions, company-sponsored employee volunteer initiatives, scholarship programs, leadership training, and much more. And of course, it takes shape in a steadfast commitment to safety first in our workplaces and respect for our employees, who are United by Steel.
We are honored to have earned accolades and awards from well-regarded organizations, including the following:
- Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies 2022, '23, '24
- Disability: IN's Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion 2021, '22, '23, '24
- Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Equality 100 Award 2020, '21, '22, '23-24, '25
- Military Times' Best for Vets: Employers 2023, '24
Conducting business with integrity and with the highest ethical values has underpinned U. S. Steel's success for over 100 years, and it remains critical to our company's success in the future. U. S. Steel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) according to job qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, genetics, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, disability status or status as a protected Veteran or any other legally protected group status. (California residents may visit regarding collection of personal information and U. S. Steel's privacy practices.)
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
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