Controls Project Engineer

Lincoln Electric; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln Electric is seeking a Controls Project Engineer in Plymouth, MI to lead cradle-to-grave control systems for automated projects. You will own electrical design, controls architecture, software development, and commissioning, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and customers.

The role requires 10+ years in automation, strong PLC and motion control experience, safety standards knowledge, and willingness to travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related technical discipline; equivalent automation experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of experience designing and implementing industrial automation, automated test, or custom machinery systems.
• Advanced experience with PLC platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, or equivalent.
• Strong motion control experience including servo systems, VFDs, and multi-axis coordinated motion.
• Understanding of machine safety standards and safety control systems.
• Experience with electrical hardware design, panel layouts, and industrial controls.
• Solid PC skills with MS Word and MS Excel.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally ~30%.
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Resident.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical owner for all controls and electrical aspects of assigned projects.
• Lead controls engineering activities throughout the project lifecycle from concept development through customer acceptance.
• Define and maintain technical direction, controls architecture, and execution strategy.
• Coordinate and lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to achieve project objectives.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation plans throughout project execution.
• Provide technical mentoring and guidance to controls engineers and project team members.
• Review customer specifications, scope of work, and technical requirements.
• Develop controls and electrical technical specifications.
• Support project managers in developing budgets, schedules, and cost-to-complete assessments.
• Participate in project planning, status reviews, risk reviews, and customer meetings.
• Manage engineering changes and scope modifications throughout project execution.
• Review electrical schematics, panel designs, bills of material, and hardware selections.
• Lead PLC, motion control, HMI, SCADA, and industrial PC software development activities.
• Develop and approve controls system architectures including PLC, HMI, motion control, safety, networking, and industrial communication systems.
• Lead equipment startup, integration, commissioning, and validation activities.
• Develop and execute FAT and SAT.

Skills

Industrial automation

PLC programming

Motion control

Safety standards

Electrical design

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLC

Rockwell PLC

Beckhoff PLC

Job description

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Lincoln Electric is a high-performance industrial machinery and technology leader who helps customers manufacture and maintain vital equipment and infrastructure. Lincoln Electric’s innovative solutions enable higher quality and productivity across a variety of processes including welding, cutting, brazing, machining, process automation, and field repair. The Company leverages proprietary technologies and expertise in materials science, power electronics, automation, and intelligent software to help customers build better and achieve resilience in their operations. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric is the essential ‘Linc’ that keeps the economy running. The Company operates 71 manufacturing and automation facilities across 20 countries and serves customers in over 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at https://www.lincolnelectric.com .

Location: Plymouth - 46247
Req ID:29757

Position Overview

The Controls Project Engineer serves as the technical leader for automation and test system projects from concept through customer acceptance. This position is responsible for providing cradle-to-grave ownership of all controls, electrical, motion control, software, and commissioning activities for assigned projects.

The Controls Project Engineer works closely with project management, mechanical engineering, software development, manufacturing, suppliers, and customers to ensure project objectives related to performance, quality, schedule, safety, and cost are achieved.

This role provides technical leadership throughout project execution, including requirements definition, controls architecture development, electrical design oversight, software development, risk assessment, equipment commissioning, validation, and customer acceptance. The position requires strong technical expertise in industrial automation, motion control systems, machine safety, and automated test equipment.

Summary of Essential Job Functions & Duties

• Serve as the primary technical owner for all controls and electrical aspects of assigned projects.
• Lead controls engineering activities throughout the project lifecycle from concept development through customer acceptance.
• Define and maintain technical direction, controls architecture, and execution strategy.
• Coordinate and lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to achieve project objectives.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation plans throughout project execution.
• Provide technical mentoring and guidance to controls engineers and project team members.
• Review customer specifications, scope of work, and technical requirements.
• Develop controls and electrical technical specifications.
• Support project managers in developing budgets, schedules, and cost-to-complete assessments.
• Participate in project planning, status reviews, risk reviews, and customer meetings.
• Manage engineering changes and scope modifications throughout project execution.
• Review electrical schematics, panel designs, bills of material, and hardware selections.
• Lead PLC, motion control, HMI, SCADA, and industrial PC software development activities.
• Develop and approve controls system architectures including PLC, HMI, motion control, safety, networking, and industrial communication systems.
• Lead equipment startup, integration, commissioning, and validation activities.
• Develop and execute factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related technical discipline. Equivalent applicable automation experience may be considered.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience designing and implementing industrial automation, automated test, or custom machinery systems.
• Advanced experience with PLC platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, or equivalent.
• Strong motion control experience including servo systems, VFDs, and multi-axis coordinated motion.
• Understanding of machine safety standards and safety control systems.
• Experience with electrical hardware design, panel layouts, and industrial controls.
• Solid PC skills with MS Word and MS Excel.
• Must have appropriate flexibility, sense of urgency, motivation and versatility to make a substantial contribution to the group's success.
• Ability to interact with customers and vendors while representing the company in a professional manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately 30%
• Ability to support critical project milestones, startup activities, and customer commitments through schedule flexibility when required.
• Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident.

Lincoln Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting equal employment opportunity for applicants, without regard to their race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Nearest Major Market: Detroit
Job Segment: Testing, Computer Science, Machinist, Welding, Project Manager, Technology, Manufacturing