Controls Engineer II

Socket.dev; Canton (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hendrickson is seeking a skilled Controls Engineer to design and develop control hardware, software, and tools for automated manufacturing. The role includes PLC programming, HMI development, data collection, and supporting new product traceability initiatives on the shop floor.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and 5-8+ years in manufacturing engineering, with strong knowledge of Rockwell FactoryTalk and data visualization tools such as Power BI. Travel to facilities may be required.

Qualifications

• 5-8+ years engineering experience in automated manufacturing.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and PLC code.
• Experience with Rockwell FactoryTalk software suite.

Responsibilities

• Design control system hardware for automated equipment.
• Troubleshoot production and control issues; perform root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with vendors to resolve defects and improve tools and software.
• Develop and maintain HMI solutions, dashboards, and charts.
• Document code, standards, and work instructions.
• Support controls standards across manufacturing locations.
• Write PLC logic and SQL queries for reliability and scalability.
• Lead upgrades of robotic cells and validation activities.
• Participate in product/process design reviews to reduce costs.

Skills

Engineering experience

Electrical schematics

Allen Bradley PLC

Data visualization

Rockwell FactoryTalk

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

FactoryTalk View

FactoryTalk Transaction Manager

FT Directory

NGT2

Job description

Department Mission Statement:

To support the development of new Hendrickson suspension components while maintaining that Hendrickson is a profitable company. We will do this by simultaneously developing the manufacturing processes and tools alongside product development. We will focus on creating processes that are capable, sustainable, and within takt time. These processes must support the capacity needed by the customer within reasonable financial payback to our company.

Position Purpose

Responsible for designing and developing control hardware, software, tools, and processes to support existing products and new product traceability development initiatives. These will include but are not limited to:

• Panel components / layout
• Utilizing Rockwell FactoryTalk Suite
• PLC programming
• HMI programming
• Data collection & analysis

Essential Functions

• Specify and design control system hardware for automated manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex production and controls issues; perform root cause analysis; and document findings for Quality, Production, and IT.
• Collaborate with vendors to resolve defects and improve software, configurations, websites, and other technical tools.
• Develop and maintain HMI solutions, charts, graphs, dashboards, and other visualizations that are clear, meaningful, and effective.
• Maintain accurate program documentation, including code comments, standards, version expectations, and standard work instructions.
• Serve as a technical resource for Hendrickson Manufacturing Engineers and support controls standards across manufacturing locations.
• Design, write, and maintain reliable, scalable, repeatable, testable, and maintainable PLC logic and SQL queries.
• Lead upgrades and migrations of automated FANUC robotic cells from Rockwell Logix 500 to Logix 5000, including validation, documentation, and production cutover support.
• Participate in product and process design reviews to improve product quality and reduce production cost.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical area is required (Software Engineering or Control Engineering preferred).

Minimum Qualifications

• 5-8+ years of engineering experience required.
• Ability to read and understand electrical schematics, flow charts, and Allen Bradley PLC code.
• Professional experience as Manufacturing Engineering in an automated machine tending environment is desirable.
• Understand how to visualize data (charts / pivot tables / PowerBI) preferred.
• Understanding of structured programming principles.
• Must exhibit strong “problem solving and decision-making” abilities.
• Experience with Rockwell FactoryTalk software suite (Studio 5000, Administration Console, Transaction Manager, View Studio, FT Directory, NGT2).
• Production experience is an advantage.

Physical Demands

• Frequent sitting, work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Leads and participates in physical assembly of mechanical/electrical designs; may make modifications as needed.

Environmental Conditions

• Office setting & shop floor setting
• Candidate will be working in and around industrial machinery. May be exposed to the following processes and the environmental conditions inherent with each: automation, machining, heat treat, laser cutting, as well as other physical assembly processes.
• All necessary PPE (as defined by OSHA) and training associated with such will be provided.
• Must be willing to travel to Hendrickson manufacturing facilities on an as-needed basis.

Behavioral Traits

• Must be punctual, self-motivated, ethical, and willing to learn.
• Excellent problem solving and deductive reasoning skills.
• Persuasive communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to work well within a team environment and collaborate with different functional groups.
• Strong organizational skills.
• React quickly to shop floor issues impacting production.

*This is not a comprehensive list of duties. Duties may change without notice in management’s sole discretion. Hendrickson is an at-will employer, each employee is free to resign at any time, just as Hendrickson is free to terminate employment at any time without cause or notice.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.