Your Job

Georgia-Pacific is seeking a qualified professional for our Automation Engineer opportunity supporting the Palatka, FL Consumer Products manufacturing operation. Located just south of Jacksonville and west of St. Augustine, FL, the Palatka mill employs about 950 people has six paper machines as well as several converting lines and produces consumer tissue products such as bath tissue and paper towels sold under the Georgia-Pacific brand names of Angel Soft®, Quilted Northern®, Brawny®, and Sparkle®.

The Automation Engineer will participate in the identification, selection, development, and implementation of new technologies for the next generation of fully automated manufacturing assets. Develop and maintain a summary of technologies and trends relevant to automation machinery. Define potential new technologies and participate in their development from proof-of-concept to execution. Support the Automation Platform with IP strategies, invention disclosures and patent applications for relevant technologies and their use across the Enterprise.

The primary responsibilities of this position are to: improve the manufacturing processes in the operations areas of the mill; own the automation and support systems; and lead the operational team to be the best. The ideal candidate will possess economic thinking skills with. ability to deliver innovative solutions that provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace; have demonstrated the ability to act as an entrepreneur to effectively use critical thinking and judge appropriate risks to deliver maximum value to the company; and have a passion for innovation that applies analytical thinking skills to develop links between commercially available technology and the application of that technology to manufacturing operations.

Our Team

The Palatka mill and its products are a critical part of GP's Consumer Products portfolio, including high-profile Angel Soft®, Quilted Northern®, Brawny®, and Sparkle® brands. GP has invested heavily at Palatka in recent years to deliver competitive tissue and towel products including a new towel paper machine. The mill also features two Kraft paper machines and recent investments in a state-of-the-art Daily Operations Center (DOC) - a singular control hub for our asset monitoring. With more than 950 team members, the mill is highly strategic operation for GP and a foundational part of the local community and economy.

Located 45 minutes west of the beautiful beaches of St. Augustine, the mill is nestled in outskirts of the growing city of Palatka. Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and Gainesville are approximately one hour away, and Orlando is only two hours! In an area ideal for many different people, interests, and lifestyles, the Palatka mill is a rare find!

What You Will Do

• Always have a commitment to and place the appropriate emphasis on safety for all job responsibilities.
• Own a fleet of 49 LGVs and the associated support systems
• Lead the operational team of hourly technicians to support the uptime, and utilization, and asset care of the fleet.
• Partner with operations, shipping, and other teams to carry out the mill vision to "be the best."
• Support automation design and startup for the potential warehouse expansion.
• Responsible for Palatka's continued focus on innovation and transformation to increase our competitive advantage through use of automation in all areas across the facility. Provide oversight around processes to sustain reliable operations of the technology.
• Respectfully challenge status quo to facilitate manufacturing improvements.
• Analyze manufacturing process flows for the enhancements of safety, quality, cost reduction, and throughput through automation.
• Provide technical expertise and transfer the knowledge to others.
• Work closely with operations and maintenance team members to develop, coordinate, and facilitate technical learning for employees.
• Develop and implement GP's reliability and asset strategy for all new and upgraded automation equipment.
• Work with support personnel and operations team resolving reliability issues related to automated equipment.
• Capability to develop, manage, execute, and start-up automation projects including: Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), robotics, drones, and supporting infrastructure.
• Partner with operational owners to create a seamless transition from equipment start-up to daily operations.
• Acquire and retain technical knowledge of existing and new automated equipment to the level of a Subject Matter Expert (SME).
• Provide engineering support in operations area to troubleshoot, resolve technical problems, and identify root cause analysis of automated equipment.
• Consult with and travel to other facilities to problem solve, collaborate on automation technology, and support the needs of the automation platform outside of Palatka.
• Take complete ownership of assigned workload and follow through to completion with minimal supervision and appropriate levels of communication to all levels of the organization.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Two (2) year technical degree or higher with 2 or more years of experience working within a manufacturing electrically or mechanically focused role.
• Experience with automation, robotics, process control, or other related manufacturing equipment.
• Leadership of multi craft team to develop, manage, and execute projects.
• Proficient use of computers and software (Microsoft Office, Project, CAD, etc...) needed to support project development and execution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for use in all levels of the facility, corporate partners, and OEM's.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or similar Engineering field.
• 5 or more years of engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Capability to program and troubleshoot complex PLC, DCS, and component level systems.
• Experience with Automated Guided Vehicles and robotics.
• Project management experience with the ability to manage multiple projects using MBM® to drive prioritization urgency.
• Experience with Elettric 80 (E-80) automation equipment and systems.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Who We Are

As a Koch company and a leading manufacturer of bath tissue, paper towels, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, building products and much more, Georgia-Pacific works to meet evolving needs of customers worldwide with quality products. In addition to the products we make, we operate one of the largest recycling businesses. Our more than 30, 000 employees in over 150 locations are empowered to innovate every day -to make everyday products even better.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please visit the following website for additional information: http: //www.kochcareers.com/doc/Everify.pdf