Controls & Automation Engineer

FALK Panels Canada Ltd.; Michigan; On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

FALK Panels USA seeks a Controls & Automation Engineer to own programming, troubleshooting, and improvement of PLCs, HMIs, CNCs, and automated systems on the plant floor. The role serves as technical lead for new equipment installations and line integration.

The position emphasizes hands-on work with AI-assisted tools to speed up documentation and data analysis, plus collaboration with OEMs and integrators during FAT/SAT and commissioning.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on Siemens TIA Portal experience and familiarity with Rockwell.
• Experience in CNC programming/setup and CAM software (Mastercam, Fusion, etc.).
• Robot programming experience with Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or cobots.
• Ability to read electrical schematics; EPLAN/AutoCAD Electrical a plus.
• Industrial networking proficiency (PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, OPC UA).
• Willingness to travel for OEM commissioning, including international trips.

Responsibilities

• Lead PLC/HMI/ CNC programming, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Own safety, standards, and line integration for new equipment and line installs.
• Coordinate with OEMs, integrators, and internal teams on FAT/SAT and commissioning.
• Develop startup docs, I/O lists, and operator training for new equipment.
• Drive automation projects to reduce downtime, scrap, and changeover time.

Skills

Siemens TIA Portal

CNC programming

Robot programming

Electrical schematics

Industrial networking

AI-assisted tools

Troubleshooting & debugging

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's in electrical/controls/mechatronics

Tools

Mastercam

Fusion 360

EPLAN

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Controls & Automation Engineer

FullTime Technical Walker, MI, US 1 Attachments

6 days ago Requisition ID: 1085

Salary Range: $100,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually

Controls & Automation Engineer

Engineering & Operations Department

Direct Reports:None

About the Position

The Controls & Automation Engineer is the technical backbone of Falk Panel USA's production floor. This role owns the programming, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of every PLC, HMI, CNC, and automated system running on the panel lines, and serves as the company's technical lead when new equipment comes into the plant.

This is a hands-on engineering role. AI tools are part of the everyday toolkit, not a separate initiative: used to move faster on documentation, catch problems earlier in the data, and free up more time for the hands-on work that actually needs a person.

Role Responsibilities

PLC & Controls Programming and Support

• Program, modify, and troubleshoot Siemens PLC and HMI systems (TIA Portal, S7-1200/1500, WinCC/Comfort Panels) across the panel lines, using AI-assisted code review and debugging tools where available to speed up fault-finding
• Maintain organized, backed-up, version-controlled copies of all machine programs and HMI projects
• Diagnose electrical, controls, and network faults (PROFINET/PROFIBUS, drives, servos, safety circuits) and support maintenance on downtime calls; apply anomaly-detection tools against drive and servo data to catch failures before they cause downtime
• Configure and tune VFDs, servo drives, and motion axes
• Serve as the technical owner on the Falk side for new line installs, reviewing OEM electrical/controls designs, participating in FAT/SAT, and commissioning alongside the builder
• Integrate new machines into existing line control, safety, and data systems
• Build startup documentation, I/O lists, and operator/maintenance training for new equipment, using AI drafting tools for first drafts so more time goes to the floor and less to the paperwork

CNC Programming and Setup

• Program, set up, and optimize CNC equipment (G-code/CAM, tool offsets, fixturing, feeds and speeds); use CAM software's built-in optimization features where they improve on manual feeds and speeds
• Develop and maintain a library of part programs and setup sheets

Automation and Continuous Improvement

• Identify and lead automation projects that reduce manual handling, scrap, and changeover time
• Scope, justify (ROI), and implement robotics, vision, and material-handling automation, including working with integrators or building cells in-house, and including machine vision for defect detection and part inspection
• Connect machine data to Evocon and other plant systems (OPC UA, tags, downtime reason codes) so OEE and scrap data flow automatically rather than by hand, and use that data to spot patterns worth investigating before they show up as a bigger problem
• Stay current on industrial automation trends (cobots, machine vision, IIoT, predictive maintenance, MES integration), including where AI is showing up in each, and bring concrete proposals to leadership
• Manage relationships with Siemens, integrators, and OEM support

Safety and Standards

• Design and validate machine safeguarding and safety PLC logic to ANSI B11 / ISO 13849 / NFPA 79 standards
• Own risk assessments for new and modified equipment; drafting tools can speed up the paperwork, but final validation and sign-off stay with the engineer

Mission, Values & Customer Focus

• Partner with leadership to understand and support FALK's Mission and Values, and cascade that mission and those values throughout the FALK team, including actively educating and reinforcing the team's understanding of FALK's mission and values on an ongoing basis.
• Champion a customer-friendly and installer-friendly approach across the business, building FALK's reputation as the industry expert.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on Siemens TIA Portal experience (S7-1500 preferred); Rockwell familiarity a plus
• CNC programming/setup experience; CAM software experience (Mastercam, Fusion, etc.)
• Robot programming experience (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or a cobot brand like Universal Robots)
• Can read and mark up electrical schematics; EPLAN or AutoCAD Electrical a plus
• Industrial networking (PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, OPC UA)
• Associate's or Bachelor's in electrical/controls/mechatronics, or equivalent experience
• Willing to travel for OEM commissioning, including internationally
• Comfortable adopting AI-assisted tools for code review, documentation, and data analysis is a plus — not required on day one, training provided

Attachments (1)

FALK - Controls & Automation Engineer Job Posting.docx