From the Red Sea to Rockwell: Meet James Walkup

A Journey Rooted in Curiosity

Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, James now calls Charleston home. He recently married his wife, his longtime friend. Outside of work, James is passionate about sports and scuba diving, a passion that has taken him to breathtaking destinations like Egypt’s Red Sea.

In 2022, James took a sabbatical to travel the world, exploring Southeast Asia and beyond. “Scuba diving will definitely take you to a lot of far-off places,” he says, recalling dives in Belize, Bonaire, and his personal favorite was Komodo National Park.

From Least Favorite Class to Lifelong Passion

James’ path to automation didn’t follow a straight line. After leaving college early and working in a paper mill, he sought advice from his father, a mechanical engineer. “I asked him, if you had to do it over again, what engineering would you do? He suggested I get into electrical engineering,” James recalls. Ironically, automation controls was his least favorite class, but later became his professional passion. That move opened the door to large-scale work, new technologies, and exposure to industries he’d been curious about, especially food and beverage.

Before joining Gray AES, James spent seven years managing control systems for a company in the power industry. “I was looking for something new and challenging,” he says, “and Gray AES had the big projects and opportunities I was looking for.” James transitioned to Gray AES to work on large-scale projects, gain Rockwell experience, and explore other industries. He was most interested in the food and beverage sector.

Engineering with a Sense of Adventure

As an Automation Engineer, James’ role spans the entire project lifecycle, from estimating and designing to programming and commissioning. “You really get the beginning, the middle, and the end of a project,” he explains. Automation engineering involves programming, estimating project costs, designing flow charts, and commissioning installed programs.

While much of his programming work is remote, travel ramps up during commissioning. James was attracted to the idea of visiting different plants in different parts of the country. His current project with a leading beverage brand is exactly the type of work that drew him to Gray AES.

James is also quick to credit his team for hepling him grow. “Working on a PCS7 conversion project was great because I learned so much from my team,” he says. “You think you know a lot until you work with people who have more experience.”

For James, the hardest part of joining a new team was saying goodbye to the old one. But he found that joining a new organization doesn’t mean you lose those relationships you’ve made. “I keep in touch with my old work friends. We don’t talk every day, but we catch up once a week or so,” he recalls with a smile.

Lessons in Listening

Transitioning from a small team to a larger organization taught James an invaluable lesson: listen first. “When you’re new, try to listen more than you talk,” he advises. “You can learn a lot from experienced people if you stay open-minded.”

His favorite memory so far? Assembling panels in an unheated Idaho room in December, a challenge that now makes for a good laugh. Looking ahead, James is excited to see his current project through and continue growing his expertise.

Why Curiosity Wins Every Time

From designing flow charts and commissioning programs to diving in some of the world’s most beautiful waters, James approaches every challenge with adaptability and enthusiasm. His journey is a reminder that the best careers, like the best adventures, are built on curiosity, openness, and a willingness to dive deep.