Controls Engineer

Align Production Systems; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Align Production Systems is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, develop, and implement electrical controls and automation for industrial material handling. You will write PLC programs, support installation, and lead projects, coordinating between mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

Responsibilities include commissioning custom solutions, validating systems, and creating operation manuals while balancing scope, cost, and performance.

Qualifications

• Experience with AutoCAD Electrical and Allen-Bradley PLCs.
• Strong ability to read and interpret schematics and codes.
• Troubleshooting skills and hands-on automation knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Interpret customer requirements and address design parameters while keeping budget in mind.
• Commission and troubleshoot control systems for automated material handling.
• Lead projects representing electrical and programming functions for all jobs.
• Draw and review control schematics and write testable PLC programs.
• Develop operation and maintenance manuals for controls.

Skills

AutoCAD Electrical

Project Management

Structured Text

CANbus & Ethernet

Codesys

Ladder Logic

Mechanical knowledge

Read schematics

Microsoft 365

Education

Bachelor's in Automation or Electrical Controls Engineering

Troubleshooting skills

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Allen-Bradley Software

Codesys

Job description

Who We Are

The Align philosophy is to work together as a team to effectively implement the best solution, on the best schedule, at the best price. This philosophy drives Align to perform our best through quality employees, quality products, and quality customers, what we call, our “Q3.”

Job Description

Who We Are

The Align philosophy is to work together as a team to effectively implement the best solution, on the best schedule, at the best price. This philosophy drives Align to perform our best through quality employees, quality products, and quality customers, what we call, our “Q3.”

Position Overview

The Controls Engineer designs, develops, and implements electrical controls and automation systems to perform to customer’s expectations; collaborates with mechanical design engineers, writes programs and operational procedures for industrial material handling equipment; and is a support system during and after installation as the need arises.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (other Duties May Be Assigned)

• Interpret customer requirements, identify, and address design parameters and engineering problems and ensure solutions are implemented accurately and within budget through clear customer communication.
• Commission custom product solutions and systems Assist installation and troubleshooting control systems.
• Lead as the Project Manager representing the electrical and programming functions of the business for all projects.
• Organize Controls Engineering workload and set deadlines for milestones.
• Support the manufacture, build and validation of systems which include pneumatics, hydraulics, servos, variable frequency drives, relays, communication networks, touchscreens, pushbuttons, robotics, and other such integration.
• Writing AGV programs in structured text for varying machine designs and applications.
• Creating system logic for AGV fleets.
• Working with customers to establish AGV communication with the facilities operational system.
• Performing startup and diagnostic tests on newly manufactured AGV’s before completion.
• Assist application sales engineers and product engineers in estimating cost of controls.
• Develop cost-effective designs through key selection of control components to maximize profitability and in collaboration with purchasing.
• Draw and review control schematics, able to interpret shop edits and implement them into final draft.
• Write PLC programs that are simple to test, are well-documented and versatile.
• Assist in the creation of operation and maintenance manuals related to controls.
• Ability to balance multiple projects and prevent scope creeps.

Skills & Knowledge

• AutoCad Electrical
• Project Management
• Structured Text
• CANbus & Ethernet communications
• Ability to read, edit, and troubleshoot in Codesys
• Must have good mechanical knowledge.
• Experience in Allen-Bradley products and software, writing programs using Ladder Logic, and maintaining schematics/programs for future warranty/repairs.
• Knowledge of NEC rules and best practices
• Microsoft 365

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

Experience Required (Any of):

• Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering, or Controls Engineering Degree
• Troubleshooting skills are paramount.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret component cutsheets, vendor quotes, and sales proposal.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.,) in its most difficult phases.
• Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

Job Type: Full-time

Education: Bachelor's in Automation or Electrical Controls Engineering

Minimum Experience

• AutoCAD Electrical: 1 year
• Allen-Bradley PLC: 1 year
• electrical or automation: 1 year