Controls Engineer

Piston Automotive; Redford Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays and vacation

Medical and prescription plans

Dental and vision plans

Flexible spending accounts

Health savings accounts

Employee assistance program

Life and disability coverage

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Vehicle and product discounts

Job summary

Piston Automotive is seeking a Plant Controls Engineer in Redford Charter Township, Michigan, to maintain and optimize control systems in the manufacturing facility. The role includes analyzing machine performance, supervising safety audits, and improving existing processes. Candidates must have at least a relevant degree and two years of experience as a Controls Engineer, along with expertise in PLC and HMI programming. Piston Automotive offers competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package including medical plans and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years as a Controls Engineer or Maintenance Technician.
• Experience with maintaining robots in production processes.
• Strong knowledge of manual and automated assembly systems and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize machine performance using PLC data.
• Lead root-cause analysis for systemic and intermittent issues.
• Conduct regular audits on safety control programs and devices.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement assigned projects.
• Ensure peak efficiency and safety of all manufacturing machinery and equipment.

Skills

PLC programming

Vision systems programming

HMI programming

Robot programming

Experience with robots in production

Knowledge of JIT, SPD, ILVS

Education

Associate or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Programming, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Project

AutoCAD

Studio 5000 Logix Designer

FactoryTalk View Studio

Job description

The Plant Controls Engineer plays a crucial role in maintaining, optimizing, and troubleshooting the control systems essential to production processes within the manufacturing facility. This position involves supporting and improving existing control systems to ensure optimal production efficiency and safety. The plant Controls Engineer provides expertise for the maintenance of ongoing production processes, including the implementation and documentation of required process changes to support continuous improvement and product changes. The Controls Engineer assists in optimizing tooling design and automation processes to prevent or minimize production downtime. You should be self‑motivated and able to work with minimal direction, make decisions independently, and able to motivate others to complete the task at hand.

Hours

2nd Shift – 5:30 pm to 2:00 am, Monday through Friday. 30‑minute lunch break.

Benefits

• Competitive wages
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Medical and prescription plans
• Dental and vision plans
• Flexible spending accounts
• Health savings accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Life and disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vehicle and product discounts

Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize machine performance using PLC data.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for systemic and intermittent issues.
• Select and integrate error‑proofing devices to address quality concerns.
• Understand and maintain machine Ethernet networks.
• Conduct regular audits on safety control programs and devices.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement assigned projects.
• Interface with automation and capital equipment vendors.
• During new equipment launches, transfer all equipment and process documentation to the production plant prior to SOP, including all OEM equipment documentation (electronic and hard copies of manuals, BOM, drawings, recommended spare parts and recommended preventive maintenance documents).
• Lead activities in new product/process manufacturing and recommend improvements.
• Develop preventive maintenance programs in collaboration with plant management.
• Support controls‑related issues to minimize production downtime.
• Guide maintenance technicians to develop skillsets and strengthen the team.
• Ensure peak efficiency and safety of all manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Assist in installation and maintenance of machines and tools.
• Analyze equipment requirements and assist in requisition of tools and spare parts.
• Identify and recommend efficiency improvements to reduce costs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Programming, or a related field. Relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of two years as a Controls Engineer or Maintenance Technician.
• Experience with maintaining robots in production processes.
• Experience in JIT, SPD, ILVS and batch manufacturing systems.
• Strong knowledge of manual and automated assembly systems and technologies, including both mechanical and control systems.
• Technical experience required with Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, Studio 5000 Logix Designer, FactoryTalk View Studio.
• Controls technical proficiency requirement:
• PLC programming (2–4 years): Allen Bradley ControlLogix 5000 processors.
• Vision systems programming (2–4 years): Cognex, Keyence.
• HMI programming (2–4 years): FactoryTalk View Studio, PanelView Plus.
• Robot programming: touch‑up paths and troubleshoot stoppages.

Piston Automotive, part of the Piston Group family of companies, is an equal‑opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that values the unique contributions of every employee. We encourage all candidates to apply for positions that match their skills and capabilities, ensuring equal consideration without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. For any questions regarding job opportunities or the application process, please reach out to us at [e-mail]. We are committed to providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the job search and application process, reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity for all job seekers.