Automation Controls Engineer III

Jobtailor

Alabama

On-site

USD 85,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

Job summary

Jobtailor in Alabama is seeking an experienced Industrial Controls Engineer to design, implement, and optimize automated manufacturing systems. You will collaborate with applications engineers on controls architecture from concept to detailed design, and help ensure safe, reliable operation of complex equipment.

The role requires 4+ years of hands-on experience with PLC and HMI programming, electrical drawings, and safety system design.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field.
4+ years of hands-on experience developing or integrating industrial controls and automation systems, including PLC and HMI programming.
Exposure to industrial automation platforms such as robots, conveyors, CNC integration, or process tools.
Ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings.
Experience with industrial safety system design including safety PLCs and safety-rated circuits.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Familiarity with standards IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, RIA R15.06, and functional safety standards (IEC 62061 / ISO 13849) is preferred.
Experience with simulation software for offline programming such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, Visual Components, KUKA.Sim, RobotStudio, or similar is preferred.
Experience with machine vision systems is preferred.
Experience building, modifying, or troubleshooting electrical control panels is preferred.
Experience with electrical design for industrial control systems using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD platforms is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with applications engineers on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment, contributing controls architecture input from concept through detailed design.
Design and support control system architectures including network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols.
Participate in the industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems.
Apply engineering first principles to analyze system behavior, identify root causes, and develop technically sound solutions to novel automation challenges.
Develop offline simulations of automated systems to validate control logic, robot paths, cycle times, and system behavior prior to hardware availability.
Support and execute online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, robot, and similar industrial controls programs.
Integrate auxiliary equipment, machines, and tools into unified control systems.
Work with panel fabricators and field installation teams; provide technical support during system integration and commissioning.
Support and lead factory and site acceptance testing, and contribute to the build, installation, commissioning, and start-up of automated manufacturing systems.
Create controls documentation packages including sequence of operations, I/O lists, network diagrams, and program documentation.

Skills

PLC Programming

HMI Programming

Electrical Design

Safety System Design

Root Cause Analysis

Online Debugging

Offline Simulation

Factory Acceptance Testing

Electrical Drawing Interpretation

Automation Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

Plant Simulate

Process Simulate

Visual Components

KUKA.Sim

RobotStudio

Job description

Collaborate with applications engineers on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment, contributing controls architecture input from concept through detailed design
Design and support control system architectures including network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols
Participate in the industrial controls and electrical design of bespoke automation systems
Apply engineering first principles to analyze system behavior, identify root causes, and develop technically sound solutions to novel automation challenges
Develop offline simulations of automated systems to validate control logic, robot paths, cycle times, and system behavior prior to hardware availability
Support and execute online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, robot, and similar industrial controls programs
Integrate auxiliary equipment, machines, and tools into unified control systems
Work with panel fabricators and field installation teams; provide technical support during system integration and commissioning
Support and lead factory and site acceptance testing, and contribute to the build, installation, commissioning, and start-up of automated manufacturing systems
Create controls documentation packages including sequence of operations, I/O lists, network diagrams, and program documentation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or related engineering field
Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience developing or integrating industrial controls and automation systems, including PLC and HMI programming as core competencies
Exposure to one or more industrial automation platforms such as robots, material handling systems (gantries, AGVs, conveyors), CNC machine integration, NDT, assembly, testing, or process tools (torque, welding, grinding, or similar)
Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings
Experience with industrial safety system design including functional safety devices, safety PLCs, and safety-rated circuits
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Familiarity with industrial automation and machine safety standards including IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, RIA R15.06, and functional safety standards (IEC 62061 / ISO 13849) (preferred)
Experience with industrial automation simulation software for offline programming or virtual commissioning, such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, Visual Components, KUKA.Sim, RobotStudio, or similar (preferred)
Experience with industrial machine vision systems (preferred)
Experience building, modifying, or troubleshooting electrical control panels (preferred)
Experience with electrical design for industrial control systems using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD platforms (preferred).

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in developing and integrating industrial controls and automation systems, with a strong focus on PLC and HMI programming. Proficient in electrical design, safety system design, and the application of engineering principles to solve complex automation challenges.

Highest-signal resume keywords