Automation & Controls Engineer

Automationtechies; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

HSA contribution

Job summary

Automationtechies is seeking an experienced Automation & Controls Engineer to lead PLC/HMI development for advanced manufacturing systems near Saint Paul, MN. This salaried role includes collaboration with a skilled team to support projects from concept through commissioning in a safety‑conscious environment.

You will work with Allen-Bradley Logix platforms, motion control, and material handling automation, delivering robust control solutions and supporting ongoing operations with a focus on

Qualifications

• Requires 5+ years hands-on controls engineering in manufacturing or heavy industrial environments.
• Proficient with Allen-Bradley PLCS and HMI/SCADA tools.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy PLC and HMI/SCADA software using Allen-Bradley platforms.
• Develop structured PLC programs and control architectures for complex systems.
• Support full automation lifecycle from design to startup and optimization.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley Logix

Studio 5000

RSLogix 5000

PanelView Plus

FactoryTalk View SE/ME

GuardLogix

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Automation & Controls Engineer near Saint Paul, MN. This role is ideal for a highly skilled controls professional who enjoys solving complex automation challenges, working on advanced manufacturing systems, and supporting projects from concept through commissioning.

This position offers the stability of a salaried role while providing hourly compensation for all hours worked. Employees are paid for all hours worked, including additional hours required to support project schedules, installations, startups, and customer needs.

You will work alongside a talented team of automation professionals with deep expertise in industrial controls, motion systems, process automation, and machine integration. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact while working in a collaborative, values-driven environment.

Why Work Here?

• Competitive compensation package
• Paid hourly for all hours worked
• Biannual bonus opportunity based on company performance
• Small, close-knit team with supportive and experienced coworkers
• Ability to make decisions quickly and have a direct impact on projects
• Strong culture built around honesty, respect, teamwork, service, safety, and development
• Long-tenured employees and a focus on employee growth and satisfaction
• Opportunity to work with a highly experienced automation and controls engineering team
• Exposure to challenging, advanced automation projects across multiple industries

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced PLC and HMI/SCADA applications utilizing Allen-Bradley Logix platforms, including Studio 5000 and RSLogix 5000.
• Develop structured, maintainable PLC programs and control architectures for complex manufacturing and industrial automation systems.
• Support the full automation lifecycle from design through implementation and startup.

Motion Control & Advanced Automation

• Program and commission high-speed, multi-axis synchronized motion systems.
• Develop applications utilizing Allen-Bradley Kinetix servo drives, virtual master axes, electronic gearing, and electronic camming.
• Optimize motion performance for precision manufacturing operations.

Conveyor & Material Handling Automation

• Design, program, and optimize complex material handling systems, including:
• Sortation systems
• Automated guided vehicle (AGV) and autonomous mobile robot (AMR) integrations
• Develop product tracking, merging, diverting, and barcode/RFID scanning logic to support high-throughput production environments.
• Support integration with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

Process Control & Advanced Applications

• Develop and optimize control strategies for web handling applications, including:
• Tension control
• Winding and unwinding systems
• Registration control
• Engineer extrusion process controls, including temperature regulation, pressure control, and line speed synchronization.
• Develop batch process sequences utilizing industry standards such as ISA-88 principles.
• Design, tune, and troubleshoot advanced control loops, including:
• PID loops
• Feed-forward compensation
• Integrate third-party equipment, robotics, instrumentation, and vision systems into industrial control networks.
• Perform factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), startup, troubleshooting, and commissioning activities.
• Provide technical support during equipment installation, production ramp-up, and ongoing operations.

Safety & Documentation

• Design and implement machine safety systems utilizing Allen-Bradley GuardLogix controllers and safety-rated components.
• Support compliance with applicable safety standards, including ISO 13849 and ANSI B11.19.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including:
• Functional Design Specifications (FDS)
• Control philosophy documents
• I/O lists

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent practical experience considered.
• 5+ years of hands‑on controls engineering experience within manufacturing, OEM machinery, or heavy industrial environments.
• Expert-level proficiency with Allen-Bradley automation platforms, including:
• ControlLogix
• GuardLogix
• PanelView Plus
• FactoryTalk View SE/ME
• Advanced experience with:
• High-speed motion control
• Multi‑axis synchronization
• Servo systems
• Continuous web handling systems
• Extrusion processes
• Batch processing applications
• Conveyor and material handling automation
• Strong understanding of advanced process control strategies, including PID tuning, cascade loops, ratio control, and feed‑forward control.
• Experience with industrial networking architectures, including:
• EtherNet/IP
• Managed switches
• VLAN configurations
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to independently diagnose and resolve complex automation issues.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate with customers, technicians, engineers, and project teams.
• 401(k) savings plan with 3% company contribution annually
• Paid time off (starting at 2 weeks; negotiable based on experience)
• 10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays
• Paid sick and safe time
• Paid family medical leave
• Medical insurance through UMR (UnitedHealthcare)
• Health savings account with company contribution:
• $1,700 annually for individual coverage
• $3,400 annually for family coverage
• Company‑paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
• Access to a modern healthcare program providing convenient access to:
• Primary care visits
• Physical therapy
• Mental health services
• Physicals and wellness services
• Bloodwork
• Prescription support
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary insurance programs, including short‑term disability and accident coverage

Culture

We are a small, collaborative organization where employees have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions, work on challenging projects, and grow their technical expertise.

Our team values:

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Service
• Safety

Employees enjoy a supportive environment where ideas are valued, decisions can be made quickly, and their work directly impacts the success of customers and projects.