Automation Controls Engineer: PLC & Vision Systems Lead

Piston Group & Piston Automotive LLC; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays

Medical plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

FSAs

Health Savings Accounts

EAP

401K with Company Match

Tuition reimbursement

Vehicle discounts

Product discounts

Job summary

Piston Automotive in Kansas City, MO seeks a Controls Engineer to design and support control systems for production, from sourcing to SOP to EOP. You will document equipment and processes, transfer knowledge to plant teams, and help implement engineering changes for new and existing products.

The role emphasizes hands-on PLC programming, vendor coordination, and process improvements, with lean initiatives and networked PLCs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years as Controls Engineer or Maintenance Technician.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Programming.
• 2–4 years PLC programming experience (Allen Bradley Micro Logic, SLC 500, ControlLogix).
• 2–4 years of Vision Systems programming (Cognex, DVT, Keyence).
• 2–4 years of HMI programming (PanelView).
• 2 years in JIT, SPD, ILVS and Batch manufacturing systems.
• 2 years of experience with Manual and Automated Assembly Systems and Technologies.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize machine performance and PLC-based requirements.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement projects; track progress.
• Develop and monitor capital investment budgets for projects.
• Interface with automation vendors for control solutions.
• Provide controls guidance for equipment selection and future expansion.
• Network PCs and PLCs (TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP); troubleshoot connectivity.
• Support controls issues to minimize downtime and improve uptime.
• Drive lean concepts (5S, OEE, Kanban, Visual Factory, TPM).
• Implement process improvements including automation.
• Collaborate on control-related communications and design reviews.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Vision systems

Automation & controls

Electrical power distribution

Networking (TCP/IP Ethernet/IP)

Lean manufacturing

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Programming

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

RSLogix 5000/500

PanelView

AutoCAD

RSView

Job description

Piston Automotive in Kansas City, MO seeks a Controls Engineer to design and support control systems for production, from sourcing to SOP to EOP. You will document equipment and processes, transfer knowledge to plant teams, and help implement engineering changes for new and existing products.

The role emphasizes hands-on PLC programming, vendor coordination, and process improvements, with lean initiatives and networked PLCs.