Controls Engineer

Connect-Force; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect-Force is seeking a Controls Software Engineer to own PLC programming and support automated machinery from design through startup and customer acceptance. You will collaborate with Mechanical, Hardware, and Project Management teams to ensure robust controls solutions.

The role emphasizes hands-on engineering, troubleshooting complex systems, and delivering production-ready equipment in a dynamic industrial environment.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor/Associate degree or 7+ years in industry.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial controls and automation.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to interact professionally with customers and work in a team.
• Ability to navigate project timelines and changing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Developing and modifying PLC programs using Ladder Logic and Function Block programming.
• Programming, setting up, starting, debugging, commissioning, and running automated machinery.
• Participating in project design decisions with mechanical and management teams.
• Reading and modifying electrical prints to support machine changes.
• Working with Siemens and Allen-Bradley platforms and other automation systems.
• Supporting motion-control systems and industrial networks.

Skills

PLC programming

Troubleshooting

Problem-solving

Customer interaction

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

7+ years relevant experience

Tools

Siemens Step 7

TIA Portal

Sinumerik 840D

Studio 5000

FactoryTalk Studio

WinCC Flexible

IndraWorks

Job description

Controls Software Engineer

Industrial Automation & Advanced Machinery | Full-Time

The Opportunity

If you're a Controls Software Engineer who enjoys seeing your code actually bring machinery to life, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

Our client who is currently expanding and adding to their team is an established, technology-driven industrial equipment organization that designs and builds highly engineered automated systems for major manufacturers. Their engineering environment is hands-on, collaborative, and project-driven, giving engineers the opportunity to work on sophisticated equipment from initial design and programming all the way through machine startup and final customer acceptance.

This isn't a position where you'll spend every day behind a desk making small changes to existing programs. You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of controls projects, troubleshoot complex problems, work directly with machinery, collaborate with multiple engineering disciplines, and see the finished equipment operate in a real production environment.

For someone who enjoys automation, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of seeing a machine go from concept to production, this role offers plenty of technical variety and responsibility.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Controls Software Engineer, you'll be involved throughout the project lifecycle and work closely with Mechanical Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Project Management, manufacturing teams, and customers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and modifying PLC programs using Ladder Logic and Function Block programming.
• Programming, setting up, starting, debugging, commissioning, and running off automated machinery.
• Participating in project design decisions alongside mechanical engineers and management.
• Reading and modifying electrical prints as required to support machine and controls changes.
• Working with industrial automation platforms including Siemens and Allen-Bradley technologies.
• Supporting motion-control systems, including servo motors and controllers.
• Designing, configuring, and troubleshooting industrial communication networks.
• Coordinating controls and software decisions with Hardware Engineering.
• Understanding mechanical layouts and how controls interact with the overall machine design.
• Troubleshooting technical issues independently and developing practical solutions.
• Working with Project Management to keep projects moving according to schedule.
• Participating in customer meetings, presentations, machine run-offs, and project discussions.
• Supporting equipment through final installation and customer acceptance.

Technologies You May Work With

Experience with one or more of the following is valuable:

PLC & Automation
Siemens Step 7, TIA Portal, Sinumerik 840D, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, FactoryTalk Studio, WinCC Flexible, Starter, and Bosch Rexroth IndraWorks.

Programming
Ladder Logic, Function Block, STL, SCL, G-code, Visual Basic, C and C++.

Industrial Communications
EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, CANbus, ARCNET, RS-232 and RS-485.

Motion Control
Servo motors, controllers, drives, and related industrial motion-control technology.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an engineer who is comfortable taking ownership of their work and operating with limited day-to-day supervision.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• An Associate or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another relevant technical discipline; or 7+ years of related industry experience.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial controls and automated machinery.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• The ability to apply previous experience to new technical challenges.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with customers.The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an engineering team.
• Good organization and project-tracking skills.
• An understanding of project timelines, cost awareness, and changing project requirements.
• The flexibility to adjust as project scope or technical direction changes.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This role gives you the chance to work on equipment you can actually see, troubleshoot, improve, and ultimately watch go into production.

You'll be exposed to multiple areas of automation and machine development rather than being limited to one narrow portion of a project. Engineers have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, solve challenging real-world problems, interact directly with customers, and play an important role in getting complex machinery across the finish line.

It's a strong opportunity for someone who wants technical ownership, hands-on engineering, challenging automation projects, and variety from one project to the next.

Travel & Work Environment

This position includes a combination of engineering-office work, manufacturing-floor support, machine startup, and customer-site activities.

Candidates should be willing and able to travel domestically and internationally as project requirements dictate, with travel potentially reaching up to 40%.

Some projects may also require extended hours during machine startup, commissioning, run-off, or customer production support.

When working within manufacturing environments, employees are expected to follow applicable safety and PPE requirements.