Controls Engineer

MDS Staffing; Hamel (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MDS Staffing in the United States is seeking an experienced Automation and Controls Engineer to design, document, and integrate motor products and motion systems. You will develop controls software, implement CANopen and other protocols, and wire components such as sensors, servo drives, and PLCs to deliver reliable systems.

You will review architectures, draft SOW inputs, develop test procedures, create electrical schematics, and provide customer training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in physics, CS, electrical or mechanical engineering, or related field.
• At least two years of experience with automation and control system components including PLCs, motors, robots, HMIs, and protocols.
• Experience with servo systems from Rockwell, Nidec Control Techniques, Elmo, Copley, Siemens, and Kollmorgen.
• Experience with PLCs from Rockwell, Siemens, or B&R.
• Experience with robot controls from Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or similar manufacturers.
• Experience developing electrical schematics and wiring and debugging electrical systems.
• Working knowledge of Dynamic HTML, XML, CSS, and JavaScript is desired, with strong communication skills.
• Must have access to ITAR-controlled technical data under U.S. export laws.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and documentation of integrated motor products and motion systems for controls integration, motor, feedback, cabling, and safety.
• Develop controls software, including motion libraries for CANopen and other protocols, and integrate sensors, servo drives, indicators, and PLC logic.
• Review system and controls architecture to support reliable integration across subsystems.
• Execute technical work per customer and project SOWs; input to SOWs for subcontractors.
• Develop and document test procedures; perform product qualification testing.
• Develop electrical schematics; wire, debug, and troubleshoot electrical systems.
• Design, build, and document mechanical and electrical control systems for automation test equipment; program controllers and drives.
• Provide technical support and training to customers, distributors, sales, and manufacturing teams.

Skills

Automation & controls

System integration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics, CS, EE, ME or related

Tools

Rockwell/Siemens/B&R PLCs

Servo/stepper motors

Robot controls (Fanuc/ABB/KUKA)

Electrical schematics & wiring

Industrial protocols & sensors

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and documentation of companies integrated motor products and motion systems as it relates to controls integration, motor, feedback, cabling, and safety.
• Develop controls software, including motion libraries for CANopen and other communication protocols, and integrate components such as sensors, servo drives, indicators, and the PLC logic required to operate the system as intended.
• Review system and controls architecture during product and motion system development, providing input on component selection and interface compatibility to support reliable integration across subsystems.
• Execute assigned technical work defined in customer and project statements of work (SOW) and provide input to SOWs for subcontractors performing hardware design and build work.
• Provide input on the development of test procedures, and conduct and document testing, including product qualification testing, to verify system and product performance.
• Develop electrical schematics and support the wiring, debugging, and troubleshooting of electrical systems.
• Design, build, and document mechanical and electrical control systems for automation and motion control test equipment and program the controllers and drives for that equipment.
• Provide technical support and training to customers, distributors, sales, and manufacturing personnel on control system setup, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• At least two years of experience with automation and control system components, including PLCs, servo and stepper motors and drives, robots, HMIs, industrial communication protocols, sensors, and vision systems.
• Experience with servo systems from manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation, Nidec Control Techniques, Elmo, Copley, Siemens, and Kollmorgen.
• Experience with PLCs from Rockwell Automation, Siemens, or B&R.
• Experience with robot controls from Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or similar manufacturers.
• Experience developing electrical schematics and wiring and debugging electrical systems.
• Working knowledge of Dynamic HTML, XML, CSS, and JavaScript is desired, along with the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of company personnel and others.
• This position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data. Applicants must be able to lawfully access such data under U.S. export control laws.