Automation Specialist

M-Works Search; Michigan City (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid training

Medical insurance

Dental and vision

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Job summary

M-Works Search is seeking an Automation and Controls Specialist for a Michigan City, IN site. You will work with PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks to support production equipment from concept through implementation.

Ideal for an early-career engineer with zero to three years of experience, offering hands-on learning, mentoring, and company-paid training alongside competitive benefits and growth opportunities in an on-site role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Automation, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• 0-3 years of automation/controls experience (internships, co-ops, or professional)
• Familiarity with PLC programming and industrial automation systems; Siemens preferred, AB also considered.

Responsibilities

• Support design, programming, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of automated production equipment.
• Edit, modify, troubleshoot, and develop PLC and HMI programs.
• Identify root causes of equipment and controls problems and implement lasting solutions.
• Work with Siemens, ABB, or other automation platforms.
• Support HMI and SCADA systems, including Siemens WinCC.
• Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and controls-related issues.
• Work with industrial networks (Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet).
• Support motors, drives, sensors, cameras, and power supplies.
• Create and maintain electrical drawings, PLC programs, schematics, layouts, and troubleshooting docs.
• Partner with maintenance and production for reliability improvements.
• Train employees in use and support of equipment.
• Occasional on-call, overtime, weekend, or holiday support.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Industrial networks

Troubleshooting

Electrical schematics

Siemens experience

Allen-Bradley

AutoCAD

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Siemens PLC systems

Allen-Bradley PLC

WinCC

Job description

Automation and Controls Specialist / Controls Specialist / Automation Specialist / PLC Specialist

Michigan City, IN Area | Full-Time | On-Site

Build your controls and automation career with hands‑on experience, technical mentoring, and company-paid training.

This is an opportunity for an early‑career engineer to work directly with PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, motor controls, and automated production equipment. You will learn from experienced team members while developing the practical skills needed to troubleshoot problems, improve equipment performance, and support automation projects from concept through implementation.

My client, a global manufacturer of custom‑engineered industrial materials, is seeking an Automation and Controls Specialist to support its maintenance and manufacturing operations. This full‑time, on‑site position is ideal for a recent graduate or developing controls professional who wants meaningful plant‑floor experience and room to grow.

Why You Should Apply

• Base salary of $75,000-$85,000
• Hands‑on mentoring from experienced engineering and maintenance professionals
• Company‑paid technical training and continuing development
• Exposure to PLC programming, HMI systems, industrial networks, drives, instrumentation, and automated machinery
• Low‑cost Blue Cross Blue Shield medical insurance with 85% of the premium paid by the company
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) with a 100% company match up to 5%
• Eight paid company holidays per year
• Company‑paid life insurance, short‑term disability, and long‑term disability
• Opportunity to contribute to automation improvements and controls modernization

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support the design, programming, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of automated production equipment
• Edit, modify, troubleshoot, and develop PLC and HMI programs
• Help identify the root causes of equipment and controls problems and implement lasting solutions
• Work with Siemens, ABB, or other automation platforms
• Support HMI and SCADA systems, including Siemens WinCC
• Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and controls‑related equipment issues
• Work with industrial networks, including Profibus, Profinet, and Ethernet
• Support motors, drives, sensors, scales, cameras, industrial computers, transducers, and power supplies
• Create and maintain electrical drawings, PLC programs, schematics, layouts, and troubleshooting documentation
• Partner with maintenance and production personnel to improve equipment reliability and operating efficiency
• Help train employees in the proper use and support of manufacturing equipment
• Provide occasional on‑call, overtime, weekend, or holiday support for special projects and emergency situations

About You

• Able to do the job as described
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Automation, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or another related engineering discipline
• Zero to three years of relevant automation, controls, electrical, or instrumentation experience
• Experience may come from professional employment, internships, co‑ops, or relevant academic projects
• Familiarity with PLC programming and industrial automation systems
• Siemens experience is preferred but not required; experience with Allen‑Bradley or other PLC platforms will also be considered
• Ability to read electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and blueprints
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
• Interest in developing hands‑on knowledge of automated production machinery and plant operations
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with engineering, maintenance, and production teams
• AutoCAD experience is helpful
• Experience with plastics manufacturing, extrusion, conveying, calendaring, or continuous‑process equipment is a plus