The Controls Engineer will be expected to design, program, debug, and support automated systems and automation equipment for production. The engineer will be responsible for offering electrical design input and assisting in concept and development efforts within the facility, either through infrastructure, programming, or design. Extensive PLC, Robot, Human Machine Interface (HMI), and electrical controls skills are necessary. The successful candidate will offer troubleshooting assistance on all electrical and/or controls equipment in an effort to resolve issues and gather data.
The Controls Engineer role requires a collaborative team working style and ability to work with many other associates including management, machine operators, supervisors, and other engineers. The engineer must be self-motivated, able to work with minimum supervision, possess a skill set that will enable and drive continuous improvement, and work to transition new technologies into the framework of the business. This position will assist in setting standards for new control equipment and learn additional project management skills.
Basic Responsibilities:
- Develop cost estimates for electrical systems - including purchased components, design & install labor
- Design of electrical hardware circuit and safety control circuit for automated machines and equipment
- Create electrical hardware drawings and schematics
- Lead design review meetings with production, maintenance, quality control, and others as needed
- Program machine software (PLC, robot, vision, HMI, etc.)
- Debug of programming during machine build and early-stage running
- Research, develop, test, design, and implement current and new technologies
- Provide on-going technical support for in house technicians in the machine-building group
- Support/advise with machine specification development for outsourcing activities
- Prepare, update, and deliver professional training materials, such as operation manuals, instructions, and technical reports
The ideal candidate will be able to perform these responsibilities independently. It's also important to be able to summarize and report critical information to their chain-of-command clearly and in a time-efficient manner. Also, this candidate will be responsible for some project leadership - including facilitating meetings to build consensus on the project direction and scope, making materials to communicate to related groups or chain-of-command, developing schedules or action lists, collaborating with others to ensure project results are obtained.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience working as controls engineer or related role
- Bachelor degree in Electrical, Electrical Technology or Mechatronics . Associates degree in engineering field and combination of experience can be considered.
- Analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
- Formal training or extensive experience on PLC’s (ControlLogix, OMRON CJ & NJ), Robot (DENSO RC8), AutoCAD Electrical
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Proven project completion history with successful results
- Independently manage a workload consisting of long-term projects and unplanned day-to-day priorities
- Must be a hands-on person and values time invested on the shop floor working in and on the process
- Ability to use various scientific rules and methods to solve problems coupled with the ability to detect and solve problems effectively. Must execute root cause analysis to appropriately diagnose equipment or process issues to rectify complications rapidly
- Willingness to be on-call or work remotely when needed. Willingness to work weekends when required