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Resume

Address: Waxhaw, NC
Cell Phone: 978-870-7455
Primary E-mail: daniel.reardon@gmail.com
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Summary

Control Systems Engineer with 20+ years of experience in industrial automation, specializing in Allen-Bradley PLC (ControlLogix, GuardLogix) programming, HMI development (FactoryTalk View ME, AVEVA/Wonderware), and real-time system integration. Proficient in robot control (Staubli, Fanuc), motion systems, remote I/O, safety PLCs, and vision inspection (Keyence, Cognex). Strong background in commissioning, field support, and troubleshooting of complex custom machinery. Cross-functional collaborator with mechanical and electrical engineers, focused on developing robust, scalable automation solutions that exceed performance and cycle time targets.

Objectives

Seeking a technically challenging role where I can apply my experience in programming, robotics, and system integration. I’m drawn to positions that value creative problem-solving, deep understanding and hands-on collaboration across engineering disciplines. A dynamic environment with room to wear multiple hats and contribute meaningfully to complex systems is ideal.

Work Experience

Controls Software Designer

The Eclipse programming standard is its own special animal; challenging to wrap your head around and hang custom code on, it nonetheless does a lot of the heavy lifting for their programmers. I believe I’d finally mastered it right around the time the worked dried up and they couldn’t afford to keep me on anymore. The company itself was excellent: good policies, good energy, quality people. Quirky code aside, I enjoyed working there and sincerely hope that they can turn things around.

Controls Engineer

I cut some new automation teeth at DDS, got to develop for some fun projects, and played with a lot of new toys. The engineers working there were top-notch, especially their senior programmer, and I enjoyed working with all of them. However, some questionable business decisions were made and the atmosphere grew tense as time went on. When the opportunity to move to a less stressful environment presented itself, I took it, and the big layoff occurred just weeks after I did.

I’m thankful for my time there and appreciate the people I worked with, and I think most of them landed on their feet when all was said and done. They were fine people and I wish the fest of luck to all of them.

Control System Engineer

My thanks to Brick, the three Mikes and the rest of the crew for helping me take the next step in my career, and for making my time there as enjoyable as it was. I probably would’ve stayed at George T Hall a lot longer had it not been for Mom‘s health taking a turn on the other side of the country, and the almost total lack of anything naturally green anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley. (Neon doesn't count.)

I hope you're all drinking plenty of water.

Maintenance Shift Lead / Automation Specialist

Having just left Sealed Air to pursue work focused on PLC controls, it was disappointing how little PLC time this position offered, especially when they’d advertised a need for someone with that experience. But their chief engineer jealously guarded his domain. Even after showing his protégé (with a real EE degree to indicate his legitimacy) how to perform a trace in RSLogix to troubleshoot an issue on a dial table, I received no kudos and no access. Which is too bad. It was otherwise a good company, with (mostly) good people.

Technical Support Representative

In my time there it was often said that the two leading brands for shrink wrap equipment were:

  1. Shanklin, and
  2. used Shanklin
... and there’s every reason to believe that this was 100% true. The machines were robust to a fault.

I got to wear a lot of different hats in this position. Most of the time I was a remote, backup brain for field technicians who needed a hand figuring out why a machine was doing what it was doing, but I also tested new machines, wrote documentation, went to trade shows, and even set up new equipment in Taiwan. Few of my coworkers were what I would call normal, but they were all good people, and my boss was the sort of high-energy maniac who made you like him through sheer force of will. (Think of Rob Lowe’s character in Parks and Rec.)

As time went on, I found myself wanting to wear the PLC/controls hat more than I had the chance to, and not seeing an opportunity for change within the company I reluctantly left for a position that (falsely) promised more of what I was looking for.

Electro-Mechanical Technician

Schott Solar was going strong even in the recession of '08, and would have kept going if not for those infamous nine words. The company had two years worth of orders on the books when I was hired, a fine maintenance staff and a manager who, despite a limited technical background, had a leadership philosophy that allowed us to shine: Get the tools and materials they need; Point them in the direction they need to go; Get out of the way.

Then Congress did what Congress does - they threw money at the problem in the hopes it would go away. And while the Treasury was taking their time figuring out how to distribute that money, the companies that had placed those orders wondered why they were paying for solar panels when the American public would shortly be paying for them. Two years worth of orders were quickly canceled, and a company that had been in a robust position swiftly went belly up. They were not alone. The entire industry was injured, and solar panels you see being installed today were probably manufactured in China.

I'm not bitter.

Lead Automation Technician

Some folks at MIT figured out how to build a smaller, better power supply for integrated circuits, hired some classmates, and started a business. The things they were doing there were very impressive. There was testing and data collection for almost every component on the board and if something went sideways you would know exactly what it was and you would know it quickly.

But MIT has a reputation for being a high stress environment, and along with the brains came the culture. Trust was low and the atmosphere was ... odd. At one point I was instructed by my supervisor on how to spy on my coworkers. (I neglected to follow his instructions.)

The recession of '08 saved me from additional oddness, and not at the worst time. Being laid off in early fall in New England when you’re an avid hiker ... it's not that bad.

Electronics Automation Specialist

Gillette had made the decision to outsource their packaging division and insisted that a well trained technical staff be part of the maintenance group when Sonoco got the contract. Sonoco wasn’t especially interested in paying a bunch of expensive engineers, so they found a couple of folks with the associates degrees and a little experience, tested them for electrical troubleshooting ability and, with a little help from the Rockwell Automation, trained them up as crack automation technicians.

This job was a godsend! I don’t know what I would be doing today had I not landed this position, but I bet I wouldn’t be doing this. I eventually wound up on third shift for almost 9 years which meant I didn’t have anyone to fall back on when the machine went sideways. I was it. I had to dig until I found a problem. And I dug a lot. And I learned a lot.

When they decided to go with an outside hire for an Engineering Assistant rather than promoting from within, I ended up looking for greener pastures. And when Congress helped the solar industry on '09, I was able to come back for a time. I’m awfully glad and awfully grateful for the opportunities that Sonoco and Gillette afforded me, and if I shaved I would pay them back. (My wife buys their razors, so maybe I am.)

Technical Skills

PLC & Control Systems

HMI / SCADA

Robotics

Vision Systems

Motion Control & Drives

Networking & Communication

Programming & Scripting

Cybersecurity & System Hardening

OS & Platforms