Automation Engineer

ZSG; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ZSG in Columbus, Ohio seeks an Engineer - EEG / Controls & Automation to diagnose and repair sophisticated automated manufacturing equipment on the production floor. You will work hands-on with PLCs, electrical controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, and robotics to improve uptime and reliability.

This role emphasizes on-site troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and direct engagement with production teams to implement robust solutions and continuous improvements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industrial, commercial, or military maintenance, controls, electrical, automation, or related technical experience.
• Strong hands-on electrical troubleshooting in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience with PLCs and ladder logic, including troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment.
• Ability to diagnose electrical and mechanical equipment failures rather than replacing components.
• Experience with automated manufacturing machinery, production equipment, and industrial electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced hands-on troubleshooting and repair of automated manufacturing machinery and production equipment.
• Diagnose complex equipment failures and downtime involving electrical, controls, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
• Troubleshoot industrial electrical power and control systems, including AC/DC circuits, safety circuits, sensors, relays, motors, and related components.
• Use PLC ladder logic as a troubleshooting tool to identify equipment faults and production issues.
• Troubleshoot and support PLC-controlled machinery, automated equipment, and production systems.
• Diagnose problems involving electrical components, cables, controls, safety devices, light curtains, and machine interfaces.
• Troubleshoot and maintain hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Perform mechanical troubleshooting and repair of industrial machinery and automated production equipment.
• Support robotics and automated manufacturing systems.
• Perform equipment installation, rebuilding, modification, and improvement projects.
• Perform fabrication and welding as needed to support equipment repair and improvement.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, mechanical drawings, and equipment documentation.
• Assist with equipment design, modification, and continuous improvement projects.
• Work with production and maintenance personnel to identify root causes and reduce downtime.
• Follow safety, electrical, and maintenance procedures within automotive manufacturing environments.
• Provide technical support before, during, and after production as needs require.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

PLC ladder logic

Robotics

Mechanical troubleshooting

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Schematic reading

Welding

Machine tools

Industrial maintenance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Certifications (technical)

Tools

SolidWorks

PLC programming

Robotics systems

Job description

We’re hiring an Engineer - EEG / Controls & Automation Engineer for an established automotive manufacturing operation near Columbus, Ohio.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced industrial controls, electrical, or automation professional looking for a highly hands‑on technical role supporting sophisticated manufacturing equipment. The operation utilizes PLCs, electrical controls, mechanical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, automated equipment, and fabrication, giving this individual the opportunity to troubleshoot complex equipment issues and directly improve production reliability.

This is not a desk‑based engineering or PLC programming position. The ideal candidate is someone who can get onto the manufacturing floor, diagnose equipment failures, understand PLC ladder logic, troubleshoot electrical and mechanical systems, and determine the root cause of production downtime.

If you’re looking for broad technical exposure, meaningful troubleshooting responsibility, and long‑term technical development, this could be an outstanding next step.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced hands‑on troubleshooting and repair of automated manufacturing machinery and production equipment.
• Diagnose complex equipment failures and production downtime involving electrical, controls, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
• Troubleshoot industrial electrical power and control systems, including AC/DC circuits, safety circuits, sensors, relays, motors, and related components.
• Use PLC ladder logic as a troubleshooting tool to identify equipment faults and production issues.
• Troubleshoot and support PLC‑controlled machinery, automated equipment, and production systems.
• Diagnose problems involving electrical components, cables, controls, safety devices, light curtains, and machine interfaces.
• Troubleshoot and maintain hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Perform mechanical troubleshooting and repair of industrial machinery and automated production equipment.
• Support robotics and automated manufacturing systems.
• Perform equipment installation, rebuilding, modification, and improvement projects.
• Perform fabrication and welding as needed to support equipment repair and improvement.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, mechanical drawings, and equipment documentation.
• Assist with equipment design, modification, and continuous improvement projects.
• Work directly with production and maintenance personnel to identify root causes and reduce equipment downtime.
• Follow established safety, electrical, and maintenance procedures within an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Provide technical support before, during, and after production as operational needs require.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of industrial, commercial, or military maintenance, controls, electrical, automation, or related technical experience.
• Strong hands‑on electrical troubleshooting experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Meaningful experience working with PLCs and ladder logic, including the ability to understand and troubleshoot PLC‑controlled equipment.
• Strong ability to diagnose electrical and mechanical equipment failures rather than simply replacing components.
• Experience troubleshooting automated manufacturing machinery and production equipment.Experience with industrial electrical systems, controls, sensors, safety devices, motors, and related components.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting ability.
• Experience with hydraulics and pneumatics.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, mechanical drawings, and technical documentation.
• Experience with robotics or automated manufacturing equipment is preferred.
• Fabrication and welding experience is beneficial.
• Experience with machine tools, robotic welding systems, or sophisticated manufacturing equipment is beneficial.
• NEC knowledge is beneficial.
• SolidWorks or similar design experience is a plus.
• Omron PLC experience is beneficial but not required.
• Experience in automotive, Tier 1, Japanese manufacturing environments, robotics/automation, metalworking, or other highly automated manufacturing operations is preferred.
• Military technical backgrounds with strong electrical, controls, or equipment troubleshooting experience are encouraged.
• Technical, trade, electrical, or related certifications or licensing are beneficial.
• Advanced education is preferred but not required.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Self‑motivated, technically curious, and capable of independently diagnosing equipment problems.
• Must be comfortable working directly with machinery and production equipment rather than functioning solely in a programming or office‑based engineering capacity.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Advanced Technical Exposure – Work with PLCs, ladder logic, electrical controls, automation, robotics, mechanical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, fabrication, and sophisticated production equipment.
• Meaningful Troubleshooting Responsibility – Directly diagnose equipment failures, solve production problems, and reduce manufacturing downtime.
• Hands‑On Engineering Environment – Combine engineering‑level problem solving with hands‑on troubleshooting and equipment repair.
• Broad Skill Development – Continue developing across electrical, controls, automation, mechanical, robotics, and manufacturing technologies rather than being limited to one technical discipline.
• Established Manufacturing Environment – Join an established automotive manufacturer with a long‑term operation in the Columbus area.
• Technical Development – Continue building advanced troubleshooting and automation skills while working with increasingly complex manufacturing equipment.
• Long‑Term Opportunity – Build a stable career within an established and technically sophisticated manufacturing organization.

Location: Columbus, Ohio