Position Summary
The Controls Engineer is a hands-on technical contributor, responsible for the design, development, programming, commissioning, and support of control systems for custom automation equipment. This role works closely with mechanical engineering, project management, manufacturing, electricians, suppliers, and customers to deliver complete automation solutions from concept through customer acceptance and ongoing support.
This position is ideal for an experienced controls professional who enjoys a broad range of responsibilities and thrives in a fast-paced, project-driven environment. The Controls Engineer will actively participate in electrical design, PLC programming, robot programming, machine vision integration, commissioning, troubleshooting, and customer support.
The successful candidate is a technically strong, self-motivated problem solver who is willing to wear multiple hats and contribute wherever needed to ensure project success. They possess strong communication skills, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to build positive relationships with customers and team members alike.
As the company continues to grow, this position offers the opportunity to develop into a technical leadership or management role for the right individual.
Key Responsibilities
Controls System Design & Development
- Design and develop control systems for custom automation equipment.
- Create and maintain electrical schematics, I/O architecture, network layouts, safety circuits, and control panel documentation.
- Develop PLC, HMI, robot, vision, and motion control programs.
- Perform electrical load calculations, pneumatic load calculations, and other engineering analyses as required.
- Support machine safety assessments and risk evaluations.
Project Execution
- Review project specifications and customer requirements.
- Develop control system architectures that align with project objectives, budgets, and schedules.
- Coordinate with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, electricians, project managers, and customer teams throughout project execution.
- Participate in design reviews and technical problem-solving activities.
- Support machine startup, debugging, commissioning, and customer acceptance activities.
Troubleshooting & Support
- Troubleshoot electrical, controls, robot, vision, and machine integration issues.
- Provide support during machine build, installation, startup, and post-commissioning phases.
- Work collaboratively with customers and internal teams to resolve technical challenges.
- Assist with field service and customer support activities when required.
Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to the development and improvement of engineering standards, programming standards, and documentation practices.
- Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, reliability, maintainability, and engineering efficiency.
- Evaluate new technologies and tools that can enhance company capabilities.
Qualifications & Skills
Technical Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.
- 3+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or machine integration.
- Strong PLC programming experience; Allen-Bradley required, Siemens and Keyence experience preferred.
- Strong robot programming experience; Fanuc, Epson, and Yaskawa experience preferred.
- Experience with industrial networking, safety systems, motion control, robotics, vision systems, and servo systems.
- Vision system experience including Keyence, Cognex, LMI and custom machine vision applications preferred.
- Experience using Fanuc Roboguide or similar offline robot simulation software preferred.
- Strong understanding of electrical schematics, panel design, and industrial controls hardware.
- Mechanical aptitude and understanding of machine design principles.
- Ability to navigate and interpret CAD models and drawings using SolidWorks, eDrawings, or similar tools.
- Experience designing and commissioning automated equipment from concept through customer acceptance.
Professional Skills
- Customer and outcome focused, with an ability to align competing priorities and perspectives.
- Highly detail-oriented with a strong commitment to quality and accuracy.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated and capable of working independently.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Solution-oriented mindset with a proactive approach to challenges.
- Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic project environment.
- Comfortable working across multiple disciplines and responsibilities.
Team & Culture Fit
- Collaborative, collegial, and team-oriented.
- Demonstrates pride in workmanship and ownership of results.
- Willing to wear multiple hats and contribute wherever needed.
- Able to pivot quickly when priorities change while maintaining a positive attitude.
- Strong communicator with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
- Consistently represents company values and professionalism in all interactions.
Travel Requirements
- Ability and willingness to travel as required for machine startup, commissioning, customer support, and project-related activities.
Pay: $40.00 - $50.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
