Controls Engineer - Systems Integration

LAPORTE; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

LAPORTE is seeking a Controls Engineer in Detroit for a hybrid, full-time role focused on industrial systems integration for pharmaceutical and food & beverage manufacturing. You will program Allen-Bradley PLCs and HMIs/SCADA for batch processes, assist with control-panel and industrial-network design, and support commissioning, startup and site testing.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering is required and at least 2 years in industrial controls; preferred skills include Ignition, Wonderware, iFIX,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering.
• At least 2 years in an industrial controls role with an end user or OEM, or in system integration/consulting as a controls engineer.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs and their programming software.

Responsibilities

• Program PLC, HMI and SCADA applications with a primary focus on batch process systems, including process sequences, recipes, interlocks and exception handling.
• Read P&IDs and process documentation, and translate operating requirements into control-system specifications.
• Specify, design and troubleshoot industrial networks, including Ethernet, Modbus and IO-Link.
• Prepare I/O lists, process narratives, functional design specifications, commissioning forms and other customer-required documentation.
• Assist with control-panel design, component selection and equipment specifications, applying NEC, UL 508A and other relevant project requirements.
• Troubleshoot control panels and field equipment, including VFDs and transmitters; configure equipment and support testing, commissioning and startup.
• Coordinate assigned project tasks, technical questions and deliverables with clients, equipment vendors and the project team.

Skills

Industrial controls

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Electrical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Ignition (Inductive Automation)

AVEVA Wonderware

GE iFIX

Siemens SIMATIC STEP 7

FactoryTalk Historian

OSIsoft PI

Kepware

Matrikon

SQL databases

Job description

Location: Detroit, Michigan (Hybrid) Employment type: Full-time Join LAPORTE as a Controls Engineer focused on industrial systems integration for pharmaceutical and food & beverage manufacturing. Program Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and industrial HMI/SCADA applications, primarily for batch process systems. Contribute to control-panel and industrial-network design, electrical troubleshooting, commissioning and startup.

What you will deliver

• Program PLC, HMI and SCADA applications with a primary focus on batch process systems, including process sequences, recipes, interlocks and exception handling. Support continuous and discrete applications as required by the project.
• Read P&IDs and process documentation, and work with process and electrical designers to translate operating requirements into control-system specifications.
• Specify, design and troubleshoot industrial networks, including Ethernet, Modbus and IO-Link.
• Prepare I/O lists, process narratives, functional design specifications, commissioning forms and other customer-required documentation.
• Assist with control-panel design, component selection and equipment specifications, applying NEC, UL 508A and other relevant project requirements.
• Troubleshoot control panels and field equipment, including VFDs and transmitters; configure equipment and support industrial control-system testing, commissioning and startup.
• Coordinate assigned project tasks, technical questions and deliverables with clients, equipment vendors and the project team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering.
• At least 2 years in an industrial controls role with an end user or OEM, or in system integration/consulting as a controls engineer.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs and their programming software.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with industrial HMI/SCADA platforms such as Ignition (Inductive Automation), AVEVA Wonderware or GE iFIX.
• Experience with Siemens SIMATIC controllers and STEP 7.
• Experience configuring historians such as FactoryTalk Historian or OSIsoft PI, OPC servers such as Kepware or Matrikon, and SQL databases.
• Control-panel design, industrial-network design and component-selection experience.
• Strong project coordination, organization and communication skills; proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Hybrid work and project travel

This is an office-based hybrid role with remote work and project-site assignments. Office attendance is coordinated with the project team. Project work includes commissioning and startup; travel and site schedules depend on the project and will be discussed with the hiring team.

The salary for this position is between $80,000-$130,000, contingent upon the candidate’s experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.

About LAPORTE

Founded in 1999, LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm serving pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and industrial manufacturing clients across North America and Europe.

We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, compensatory paid time off (PTO), a flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.