Automotive Controls Engineer - PLC, HMI & Robotics

Yanfeng; Chattanooga (TN); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. seeks an experienced Electrical/Automation Engineer to troubleshoot and maintain automated manufacturing equipment in Chattanooga, TN. You will diagnose PLCs, HMIs, robots, sensors, and drives, and implement durable fixes.

The role requires hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley systems, Studio 5000, and FactoryTalk View. Travel to customer sites may be required; night shifts and overtime are possible as production needs demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Hands-on troubleshooting of industrial automation in manufacturing environments required.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix, Studio 5000 and RSLogix 5000 preferred.
• Knowledge of HMI systems (FactoryTalk View, PanelView) and vision sensors beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot automated equipment and production interruptions involving PLCs, HMIs, robots, safety systems, networks, drives, and sensors.
• Connect to Allen-Bradley PLCs using Studio 5000; diagnose faults and implement controlled changes.
• Support HMI applications (alarms, displays, tag mapping) and minor changes.
• Diagnose FANUC robot cells, verify I/O, adjust positions, and modify programs as needed.
• Configure Keyence sensors and vision systems, including setup, triggering, and lighting.
• Troubleshoot 24 VDC and 120/240/480 VAC electrical systems using drawings and safe practices.
• Read electrical schematics and use multimeters to diagnose circuits and faults.
• Perform root-cause analysis and document durable corrective actions.
• Provide shift handoff notes and communicate unresolved risks and follow-up needs.
• Assist with equipment launches, preventive maintenance, and spare-parts strategy.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI systems

Industrial robotics

Allen-Bradley

Troubleshooting

Electrical schematics

Root cause analysis

Night shift readiness

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Engineering Technology

Equivalent work experience considered

Tools

Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000

FactoryTalk View / PanelView

Allen-Bradley PLCs

FANUC robotics

Keyence sensors / vision systems

Digital multimeter

Job description

Global. Collaborative. Innovative. Together, we will transform the automotive interiors industry. Together, we will redefine the ways people experience life onboard vehicles.

United States - TN - Chattanooga

Job Description

• Troubleshoot automated equipment and production interruptions involvingPLC logic, HMI applications, robot programs, safety systems, industrial networks, drives, sensors, vision systems, and electrical controls.
• Connect to Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs using Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000; trace logic, cross-reference tags,diagnose I/O and communications faults, and make controlled program changes.
• Support Allen-Bradley PanelView and FactoryTalk View HMI applications, including alarms, status displays, communications, tag mapping, and minor application changes.
• Diagnose and recover FANUC robot cells; interpret faults, verify UOP and PLC handshakes, teachor adjust positions, review I/O and interlocks, and make appropriate program changes.
• Configure and troubleshoot Keyence sensors and vision systems, including inspectionsetup, triggering, lighting, focus, pass/fail criteria, PLC communications, and false-reject conditions.
• Troubleshoot 24 VDC control circuits and 120/240/480 VAC industrial electrical systems using electrical drawings and safe work practices.
• Diagnose safety circuits, relays, contactors, motors, VFDs, servos, encoders, solenoids, analog devices, proximity sensors, photoeyes, and distributed I/O.
• Troubleshoot Ethernet/IP and related industrial communications, including device addressing, managed switches, remote I/O, intermittent connections, and network fault isolation.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement durable corrective actions instead of repeated temporaryresets or parts replacement.
• Maintain accurate backups, document changes, update drawings and technical records, and follow site change control procedures.
• Provide clear shift handoff notes and communicate unresolved risks, temporary countermeasures, and required follow-up.
• Support equipment launches, continuous-improvement projects, preventive maintenance, spare-parts strategy, and training of maintenance technicians.
• Follow all safety policies, including lockout/tagout, arc-flash boundaries, machine guarding, and controls-related safety validation.

Additional Responsibilities:
• Provide technical support to other facilities if needed.
• Maintain current corporate programming standards.
• Improve human machine interfaces.
• Implement quality improvements.

Essential Common Requirements for all Employees:

• International Operating System (IOS): Understand, apply, and meet all function related IOS requirements.
• Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS): Understand, apply, andmeet all function related EHS requirements.
• Product Safety: Understand, apply, and meet all function-related Product Safety requirements.
• Compliance: Understand, apply, and meet all function-related Compliance requirements
• Information Security: Understand, apply, and meet all function-related IT / Information Security and confidentiality of YFAI information requirements.
• Must comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Employee must have the ability to work additional hours and / or overtime as needed or assigned to complete job duties on time.
• Ability to multitask, interact politely and professionally with customers, suppliers and vendors, and work cooperatively with employees at all levels.
• Ability to maintain predictable and regular attendance, arrive to designated location on time, or be at assigned location ready to work for assignment.

Required Education Level/Qualifications:

Bachelor's Level Degree
Area of Study: Electrical Engineering / Engineering Technology or similar.
*Equivalent work experience may also be considered for certain positions. Demonstrated capability and practical troubleshooting skill are valued alongside formal education.

3-5 Minimum Years of Experience as anelectronic engineer, electrician or similar.
1-3 Minimum Years of Experience within the automotive industry
• Must be able and willing to travel and work at customer sites, including industrial manufacturing plants which might require climbing, lifting, or workingin confined spaces.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience troubleshooting industrial automation in a manufacturing environment.
• Workingknowledge of Allen-Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix PLCs and Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000.
• Working knowledge of industrial HMI systems, preferably FactoryTalk View andPanelView.
• Ability to troubleshoot FANUC robots, including alarms, I/O, interlocks, position recovery, and basic program editing.
• Experience with Keyence sensors and/or machine-vision systems, or comparable vision technology.
• Strong industrial electrical knowledge and the ability to read electrical schematics and safely use a digital multimeter.
• Ability to methodically trace a machine sequence and distinguish the root cause from a downstream symptom.
• Ability to work independently on night shift and respond calmly to high-priority production issues.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Availability for occasional overtime, weekends, shutdowns, and call-in support as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Automotive, Tier 1 supplier, or other high-volume automated manufacturing experience.
• Experience with POINT I/O, remote I/O, VFDs, servo systems, safety PLCs, barcode systems, and traceability systems.
• FANUC robot programming, backup/restore, mastering, or vision experience.
• Keyence CV-X, IV,IV2, LR, or similar product-family experience.
• Experience with controls standards, machine launches, cycle-time improvement, and equipment acceptance.
• Ability to coach maintenance technicians and share technical knowledge.

Physical Ability Requirements:

Stationary Position(Sitting or Standing): Frequently
Movement (Walking): Frequently
Carry Weight (Lifting up to 50 lbs): Occasionally
Communication(Seeing/Talking/Hearing): Constantly
Use Hands/Fingers (Operate computer, printer, phone): Constantly

CSPIRIT – the shared values of our global team

Our culture is shaped by the shared values of our global team. We may come from different parts of the world and speak a variety of languages, but we are united in our work and shared values, known asCSPIRIT.