Controls Commissioning Engineer II/III

TalentCompass; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

TalentCompass seeks a seasoned Controls Commissioning Engineer II/III to design, develop, integrate, and commission automated material-handling and production-line control systems. This hands-on role blends PLC/HMI programming with system integration, testing, and onsite commissioning.

You will regularly travel to customer sites to support project commissioning and will mentor junior engineers while ensuring thorough documentation and adherence to project milestones across the full lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on controls engineering experience in automated systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls Engineering or equivalent.
• Strong PLC/HMI development, debugging, and commissioning skills.
• Ability to read electrical drawings and AutoCAD drawings.
• Experience with full design-to-production lifecycles.
• Willingness to travel 70–90% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and commission control systems using PLCs and HMIs to meet project requirements.
• Write, debug, and optimize PLC code and HMI applications to ensure reliable system performance.
• Integrate control systems with sensors, actuators, communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet).
• Conduct in-house emulation and testing to verify system performance and troubleshoot issues.
• Perform onsite commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and startup of automated systems.
• Provide technical support for installed systems, including preventative maintenance and upgrades.
• Mentor junior Controls Engineers and document activities.
• Create and maintain documentation related to controls design and testing.
• Work across full design-to-production lifecycle to support project delivery.
• Travel extensively to customer projects (domestically and internationally).

Skills

PLCs & HMIs

Controls engineering

System integration

Troubleshooting

Electrical drawings

C++ / programming

Mentorship

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls Engineering

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

AutoCAD

Job description

DISCLAIMER: While we appreciate and review all applications, we are only able to respond to qualified applicants. Thank you for your understanding.

Company Background

Our client is a global provider of automated material-handling and logistics solutions, delivering advanced automation systems for warehouses, distribution centers, and production environments.

The Position

As a Controls Commissioning Engineer II/III, you will work as a senior member of the Controls Commissioning team, designing, developing, integrating, and commissioning control systems for automated material-handling solutions and production lines. This hands-on role combines controls engineering, PLC/HMI programming, system integration, testing, troubleshooting, and onsite commissioning. You will regularly travel to customer sites to support project commissioning and will also serve as a technical resource for the team, providing mentorship and guidance to junior Controls Engineers.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Design, develop, and commission control systems using PLCs and HMIs to meet project requirements.
• Write, debug, and optimize PLC code and HMI applications to ensure reliable system performance.
• Integrate control systems with sensors, actuators, communication networks, and other automation components, including Ethernet/IP and Profinet.
• Conduct in-house emulation and testing to verify system performance and troubleshoot issues before onsite commissioning.
• Perform onsite commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and startup of automated material-handling and production systems.
• Provide technical support for installed systems, including preventative maintenance and system upgrades.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and provide informal mentorship and guidance to junior members of the Controls Commissioning team.
• Create and maintain documentation related to controls design, testing, commissioning activities, and system modifications.
• Work across the full design-to-production project lifecycle, supporting successful project execution and delivery.
• Travel extensively to customer projects, both domestically and internationally.

Qualifications and Candidate Background

The ideal candidate will have:

• 5+ years of hands-on Controls Engineering experience, preferably in material handling, industrial automation, manufacturing, or warehouse environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Controls-related field such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent work experience.
• Strong knowledge of PLCs and HMIs, with hands-on experience developing and troubleshooting industrial automation and control systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical principles, with the ability to read electrical and AutoCAD drawings.
• Experience working through full design-to-production project lifecycles.
• Demonstrated experience with controls commissioning, system integration, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Strong technical and communication skills, with the ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional project teams.
• Experience providing technical guidance or mentorship to other Controls Engineers.
• Knowledge of Siemens TIA Portal and C++ or another programming language is a plus.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in industrial and warehouse environments.

Location

This role is based in Grand Rapids, MI, with a travel-based work arrangement requiring 70-90% domestic and international travel.

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