Controls Engineer

Engtal; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Engtal is seeking a hands-on controls engineer to own automation projects from concept through commissioning for custom machinery and turnkey systems. You will collaborate across mechanical, robotics, fabrication, and assembly teams to deliver complex automated solutions in manufacturing environments.

You will work on PLC/HMI development, electrical design support, startup, debugging, and customer installations, with travel to sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven experience programming PLCs in manufacturing or machine-building environments.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting and fault isolation skills.
• Experience with automated machinery, robotics, or material handling systems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced custom engineering environment.
• Comfort working directly with customers during builds, startups, and commissioning.
• Familiarity with designs, testing, and validation during FAT and site installations.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop PLC and HMI programs for custom automation systems.
• Integrate robotics, vision systems, conveyors, sensors, pneumatics, and motion control equipment.
• Support electrical design and control panel development.
• Perform machine startup, testing, debugging, and system validation.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers and project teams throughout the build process.
• Debug and optimize machine performance during FAT and commissioning.
• Travel to customer sites for installation, startup, and support when required.
• Assist with system improvements, upgrades, and controls standardization.

Skills

PLC programming

Electrical troubleshooting

Robotics

Vision system experience

Turnkey automation projects

Customer interaction

Multi-project management

Job description

Join a growing automation engineering team building custom machinery, robotic workcells, and turnkey manufacturing systems from the ground up.

This is a hands-on controls role where you'll take ownership of automation projects from concept through commissioning, working closely with mechanical design, robotics, fabrication, and assembly teams to deliver complex automated systems for manufacturing environments.

You'll be involved in everything from PLC/HMI development and electrical design support through startup, debugging, and customer installation.

What you'll be doing

• Design and develop PLC and HMI programs for custom automation systems
• Integrate robotics, vision systems, conveyors, sensors, pneumatics, and motion control equipment
• Support electrical design and control panel development
• Perform machine startup, testing, troubleshooting, and system validation
• Work alongside mechanical engineers and project teams throughout the build process
• Debug and optimize machine performance during FAT and commissioning
• Travel to customer sites for installation, startup, and support when required
• Assist with system improvements, upgrades, and controls standardization

What we're looking for

• Experience programming PLCs in a manufacturing or machine-building environment
• Strong electrical and controls troubleshooting ability
• Experience with automated machinery, robotics, or material handling systems
• Ability to work across multiple projects in a fast-paced custom engineering environment
• Comfortable supporting equipment through build, testing, and commissioning phases
• Strong communication skills and willingness to work directly with customers when needed

Nice to have

• Vision system experience
• Servo and motion control experience
• Experience with turnkey automation projects