Controls Engineer

AUTEC; North Carolina; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AUTEC Car Wash Systems is seeking a highly motivated Controls Engineer to design, develop, and support control systems for our automated car wash equipment. You will work on PLC programming, ladder logic, and HMI integration, collaborating with software and electrical teams to deliver reliable automation solutions.

Your responsibilities include documenting schematics and BOMs, developing test procedures, and assisting production and field technicians to troubleshoot issues onsite.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical/Controls/Automation Engineering or related field.
• Experience with PLC programming and ladder logic.
• Familiarity with NEC/NFPA, UL 508A, and industry standards; experience with VFDs, servo systems, motion control.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and test control systems using PLCs and industrial components.
• Create and maintain schematics, BOMs, and manuals.
• Develop test procedures to validate performance and reliability.

Skills

PLC programming

Ladder logic

AutoCAD Electrical

SOLIDWORKS Electrical

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls/Automation Engineering

Associate degree with relevant experience

Tools

SAP

NEC/NFPA standards

UL 508A

VFDs

Servo systems

Motion control

Pneumatics

Hydraulics

Wire harness design

Job description

Job Description

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Controls Engineer to join our engineering team at AUTEC Car Wash Systems. This role is responsible for the design, development, and support of control systems that power our automated car wash equipment. The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise in PLC programming, control system design, and industrial automation, with the ability to collaborate across teams to deliver innovative and reliable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and test control systems using PLCs, relays, timers, and other industrial automation components.
• Create and maintain accurate engineering documentation, including schematics, layout drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), product manuals, and technical bulletins.
• Develop test procedures and tools to validate product performance and ensure reliability.
• Support production and field technicians by troubleshooting control system issues.
• Collaborate with software engineers on PLC logic and HMI development.
• Research and implement cost-effective, innovative control solutions to enhance product performance.
• Create and deliver technical training materials for internal teams and customers.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (NEC, UL 508A, OSHA, NFPA).
• Occasionally travel (<10%) to customer sites for equipment installation, troubleshooting, or training.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in electrical, Controls, or Automation Engineering preferred; Associate degree with relevant experience will be considered.
• Technical Skills: Hands‑on experience in PLC programming (Siemens, Mitsubishi, GE) and ladder logic; proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical or SOLIDWORKS Electrical, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with SAP, NEC/NFPA standards, and UL 508A requirements; experience with VFDs, servo systems, motion control, pneumatics, hydraulics, and wire harness design.
• Other Skills: Strong troubleshooting ability, organizational skills, and effective communication.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Frequently required to stand, sit, reach with arms, talk, and hear.
• Occasionally required to walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 lbs, frequently up to 25 lbs, and occasionally up to 50 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role