Electrical and Controls Engineer

Akron, OH
Full Time
Operations
Mid Level

What if all plastics were recycled? Today, less than 10% are. The other 90% are either mismanaged and buried in landfills, sent to incinerators, or end up in our environment as litter polluting our land, rivers, and oceans. But imagine if all plastics could be recycled. At Alterra, we convert plastics back into their original building blocks to produce new plastics and other valuable products. We’re disrupting the traditional thinking that used plastic should be discarded and helping people see that plastics are valuable and designed to become new again. That’s Alterra…solving plastic pollution through infinitely renewed plastics.

Position Summary

The Electrical and Controls Engineer at Alterra plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of our advanced recycling technology facility where we convert discarded plastic into circular high-quality synthetic oil. This position combines hands-on technical expertise with site-level capital project planning and execution, supporting both long-term improvements and day-to-day operations.

Key Responsibilities
The Electrical and Controls Engineer will have two primary areas of responsibility: plant operations and maintenance support and capital project engineering.

Plant Operations and Maintenance Support
  • Support plant startup and shutdown activities in coordination with operations team members.
  • Assist with maintenance activities including calibration, wiring, and controls logic troubleshooting.
  • Maintain and optimize the process control system and related
  • Lead alarm rationalization efforts and maintain alarm databases.
  • Maintain safety-related documentation, including Safety Requirements Specifications (SRS) and interlock matrices.
  • Update and optimize Software Functional Design Specifications (SFDS) and control room displays.
  • Support maintenance teams in troubleshooting electrical and instrumentation issues to ensure equipment readiness.

Capital Project Engineering
  • Lead or support capital projects focused on safety improvements, process optimization, and reliability.
  • Collect, analyze, and present data to support project justification and obtain management approval.
  • Manage projects from concept through implementation, including risk management through the Management of Change (MOC) process.
  • Develop and maintain project cost estimates, ensuring adherence to established annual budget guidelines.
  • Collaborate with external vendors, contractors, and engineering partners during design and implementation.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including process safety information and P&IDs using AutoCAD. Can combine this with bullet 2
  • Identify and specify electrical and instrumentation requirements for equipment upgrades or new installations.
  • Install, configure, and commission instrumentation for control and monitoring of process variables.
  • Program and integrate new equipment into existing control systems to ensure seamless operation. Can combine the last two bullets

Qualifications
Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s or higher-level degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field required.
  • 3 or more years of relevant experience in industrial, manufacturing, or chemical plant environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong knowledge of process control systems (e.g., DCS, PLC) and related software programming.
  • Experience with industrial instrumentation, wiring, and calibration practices.
  • Proficiency with AutoCAD for updating and maintaining P&IDs, electrical wiring diagrams and other technical drawings.
  • Familiarity with process safety management principles and documentation.
  • Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
At Alterra, you’re not just taking a job—you’re joining a team committed to solving plastic pollution and redefining what’s possible for plastics and for the planet. Guided by our values—We Believe, We Listen, We Adapt, We Protect, and We Teach—we work with purpose, curiosity, and conviction to create lasting change. If you’re driven by meaningful impact and ready to help build a future where plastics are infinitely renewed, we’d be excited to consider your application.

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Alterra is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, religion, or veteran status.

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