Controls Automation Lead - Hands-On Engineer Coach

Engtal; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Engtal is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineering Lead to join our established industrial automation and systems integration team. This player-coach role blends technical leadership with hands-on project work across controls and integration.

You will guide technical direction, review PLC/HMI designs, support project readiness, and mentor engineers while remaining active on automation projects from engineering through field execution.

Qualifications

• 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.

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 design

HMI programming

Troubleshooting

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Engtal is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineering Lead to join our established industrial automation and systems integration team. This player-coach role blends technical leadership with hands-on project work across controls and integration.

You will guide technical direction, review PLC/HMI designs, support project readiness, and mentor engineers while remaining active on automation projects from engineering through field execution.