Controls Automation Engineering Lead

Engtal; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Engtal is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineering Lead to join its established automation and systems integration team in the United States. The role blends technical execution with leadership, offering guidance, review of engineering work, and mentorship while remaining hands-on with automation projects.

This player-coach position focuses on directing projects, coaching engineers, and improving execution across engineering, assembly, commissioning, and field work.

Qualifications

• Hands-on automation engineering with PLC/HMI design, programming, commissioning and troubleshooting.
• Experience with custom automation, systems integration, or engineer-to-order projects.
• Strong understanding of controls architecture and industrial automation.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, delegating, or developing other engineers.
• Ability to review technical work and make sound controls decisions.
• Strong communication and cross-functional coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and coordination for automation projects.
• Review PLC/HMI designs, programming, and engineering deliverables.
• Support controls architecture, electrical documentation, industrial networks, and machine safety.
• Perform PLC/HMI programming, commissioning, troubleshooting, and debugging.
• Support project readiness checks and identify technical risks before commissioning.
• Coach and develop engineers through technical guidance and feedback.
• Help engineers take greater ownership of their work and decisions.
• Coordinate with Project Owners, engineering teams, assembly, commissioning, and customers.
• Identify project risks and provide practical recommendations for recovery.
• Support customer-facing technical communication when needed.
• Make timely technical decisions while appropriately escalating significant project risks.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Controls architecture

Industrial networks

Machine safety

Leadership via coaching

Cross-functional coordination

Technical communication

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell

HMI software

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Automation Engineering Lead to join an established industrial automation and systems integration team.

This is a player-coach role for an experienced controls/automation engineer who wants to combine strong technical work with leadership. You will provide technical direction, review engineering work, support project execution, and help develop other engineers while remaining hands-on with automation projects.

Formal direct-report management experience is not required. We are looking for someone who has demonstrated leadership through technical guidance, coaching, delegation, and helping others succeed.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and coordination for automation projects
• Review PLC/HMI designs, programming, and engineering deliverables
• Support controls architecture, electrical documentation, industrial networks, and machine safety
• Perform PLC/HMI programming, commissioning, troubleshooting, and debugging
• Support project readiness checks and identify technical risks before commissioning
• Coach and develop engineers through technical guidance and feedback
• Help engineers take greater ownership of their work and decisions
• Coordinate with Project Owners, engineering teams, assembly, commissioning, and customers
• Identify project risks and provide practical recommendations for recovery
• Support customer-facing technical communication when needed
• Make timely technical decisions while appropriately escalating significant project risks

What We're Looking For

• Strong PLC and HMI design, programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting experience
• Experience with custom automation, systems integration, or engineer-to-order projects
• Strong understanding of controls architecture and industrial automation
• Knowledge of electrical documentation, industrial networks, and machine safety
• Ability to review technical work and make sound controls decisions
• Demonstrated experience leading technical work through influence
• Strong communication and cross-functional coordination skills
• Experience coaching, mentoring, delegating, or developing other engineers
• Comfortable working hands-on while providing technical leadership

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to step into a technical leadership role without immediately moving away from engineering. You will have the ability to influence project execution, develop other engineers, and help improve how automation projects are delivered from engineering through assembly, commissioning, and field execution.