Controls Engineer

AP Executive Staffing; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AP Executive Staffing partners with a Buffalo-area manufacturer to identify a Controls Engineer to join the Automation Engineering team in a hands-on role designing, developing, and supporting industrial automation and control systems within a manufacturing environment.

This position offers opportunities to work closely with automated equipment, manufacturing operations, and cross-functional engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with industrial automation and controls in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain PLC-based control systems for automated equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex electrical, controls, and automation issues.
• Develop, modify, and document PLC logic, HMI screens, and control system software.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and P&IDs.
• Support equipment commissioning, startups, upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production teams to diagnose system-level issues.
• Document control system changes, including logic updates, I/O changes, and revisions.
• Support the evaluation and implementation of emerging automation technologies, including robotics, motion control, and vision systems.
• Ensure controls designs meet applicable safety standards, codes, and engineering practices.

Education

Bachelor s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

AP Executive Staffing is partnering with an established Buffalo-area manufacturer to identify a Controls Engineer to join their Automation Engineering team. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys hands-on problem solving and wants to work closely with automated equipment, manufacturing operations, and cross‑functional engineering teams.

The Controls Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, implementation, and support of industrial automation and control systems within a manufacturing environment. This individual will work closely with Automation, Mechanical Engineering, Maintenance, and Production teams to troubleshoot equipment, improve system reliability, support new technology implementation, and ensure safe and efficient operations.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Design, develop, and maintain PLC‑based control systems for automated equipment and manufacturing processes
• Troubleshoot complex electrical, controls, and automation issues
• Develop, modify, and document PLC logic, HMI screens, and control system software
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and P&IDs
• Support equipment commissioning, startups, upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production teams to diagnose system‑level issues
• Document control system changes, including logic updates, I/O changes, and revisions
• Support the evaluation and implementation of emerging automation technologies, including robotics, motion control, and vision systems
• Ensure controls designs meet applicable safety standards, codes, and engineering practices

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred, or a related engineering discipline
• Experience with industrial automation and controls systems in a manufacturing environment
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and control drawings
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills
• Experience with multiple PLC platforms and automation architectures is a plus
• Exposure to robotics, motion control, and/or vision systems is preferred
• Experience supporting high‑uptime production environments is a plus