Development Controls Engineer – System Performance Testing

Intralox; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

401K

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

AD&D insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Long term care

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Intralox, L.L.C. in Hanover, MD, seeks a Development Controls Engineer to lead PLC/HMI development, debugging, and system architecture for developmental conveyor equipment.

The role collaborates with Test and Mechanical Engineers to refine controls strategies and improve performance across ARB equipment. The position requires 5+ years in controls/automation, strong PLC experience, and the ability to work in a fast-paced development environment with hands-on DUTs and field devices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field is required or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in controls, automation, or industrial equipment development.
• Strong PLC programming experience with ladder logic and structured text.

Responsibilities

• Own design, development, debugging, deployment, and support of PLC/HMI software for developmental conveyor equipment.
• Collaborate with Test and Mechanical Engineers to translate performance gaps into control strategies.
• Configure field devices (VFDs, sensors, cameras, I/O) and integrate them into test loops.
• Advance modular, maintainable control system architectures for test equipment.
• Document controls logic, equipment setup, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Identify opportunities to increase testing efficiency through automation and data capture.

Skills

PLC programming

Ladder logic

Structured text

Diagnostics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechatronics/CS

Tools

Rockwell

Siemens

Beckhoff

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Development Controls Engineer – System Performance Testing

Intralox, L.L.C., located in Hanover, MD, is seeking a Development Controls Engineer to join our Development Test team. The Hanover site serves as a hub for innovation in conveyance equipment and supports product releases for customers around the world. The Development Test team is responsible for advancing new solutions through every stage of the product lifecycle, from early concept through full commercial release. Within this environment, the Development Controls Engineer will work side by side with Test Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and cross-functional development teams to create, refine, and validate control systems for developmental conveyor equipment. This role requires an experienced controls professional who can move comfortably between hands-on equipment debugging, PLC and HMI development, system architecture decisions, and collaborative problem solving in an ambiguous development environment. The Development Controls Engineer is expected to help shape how equipment functions, how it is tested, and how performance improvements are identified and implemented. This position will focus on the Activated Roller Belt (ARB) Equipment space.

Intralox is a division of Laitram, L.L.C., with an extensive portfolio of innovative conveyance solutions and services that improve lives and optimize businesses worldwide.

Our global workforce of over 3,000 employees in 20+ countries consist of reliable problem solvers, continuously developing and directly delivering solutions that have driven our customers’ growth worldwide for more than 50 years.

Intralox was founded on the principle of doing the right thing, by treating customers, employees, and suppliers with honesty, fairness, and respect. We invest heavily in these values and aim to practice our business philosophy principles every day, which is why we have been consistently recognized for innovation and workplace excellence. We believe in the power of a good idea no matter where it comes from, using trust as the foundation to how we work, and that self-managed people are our greatest asset.

We listen objectively, think creatively, and deliver results. To learn more about our company culture, philosophy, and benefits, please visit our company page.

This position is not eligible for work authorization or sponsorship.

Responsibilities:

• Own the design, development, documentation, debugging, deployment, and support of PLC, HMI, and controls software used for developmental conveyor equipment, conveyor test loops, prototype equipment, and test systems.
• Work closely with Test Engineers to translate equipment behavior, test objectives, and performance gaps into practical controls strategies and improvement concepts.
• Configure and integrate field devices such as VFDs, photoeyes, encoders, barcode scanners, sensors, actuators, solenoids, safety devices, alarms, I/O, cameras, and related automation hardware.
• Support rapid iteration in a development environment by adapting controls logic and system configurations as equipment concepts, test plans, and performance targets evolve.
• Contribute to control system architecture decisions for test loops and developmental equipment, with emphasis on modularity, repeatability, maintainability, and efficient troubleshooting.
• Partner with Test Engineers to improve test loop capability, standardize setup procedures, refine configuration workflows, and reduce cycle time across test operations.
• Take ownership of complex controls-related problems and drive them toward clear conclusions, corrective actions, or design recommendations.
• Serve as a technical bridge between R&D Controls Engineers, Test Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and other development stakeholders.
• Create clear documentation for controls logic, equipment setup, troubleshooting procedures, standard operating practices, and test-system configuration.
• Identify opportunities to increase testing efficiency through automation, data capture, diagnostics, visualization, and AI-assisted tools where appropriate.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of controls, automation, or industrial equipment development experience; significant hands-on industrial automation experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Strong PLC programming experience in an industrial automation environment, including comfort with ladder logic and structured text.
• Experience with Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, or comparable controls platforms, with the ability to learn and adapt across platforms as needed.
• Proficiency configuring and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, industrial PCs, networks, VFDs, sensors, cameras, and related automation hardware used on conveyors, sorters, or other industrial equipment.
• Ability to diagnose equipment behavior by combining controls knowledge with an understanding of mechanical systems, product flow, safety systems, and test objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an ambiguous development environment where equipment concepts, controls strategies, and performance targets may evolve over time.
• Ability to collaborate closely with Test Engineers and Mechanical Engineers to influence equipment design, testing strategy, and performance outcomes.
• Experience creating or interpreting electrical schematics, control-panel layouts, and control-circuit documentation; AutoCAD Electrical experience preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to take ownership of complex technical issues and drive them to practical resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document controls changes, test-system configurations, and troubleshooting guidance clearly.
• Positive, proactive attitude with strong attention to detail and a willingness to work hands-on with developmental equipment and hand tools.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally (10-20%), support field activities as needed, and work weekends, holidays, or overtime when required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in conveyor, industrial automation, product handling, packaging, logistics, warehousing, or material-handling equipment.
• Experience with Beckhoff controls platforms and TwinCAT programming.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, SQL, or other tools used for data analysis, automation, diagnostics, or test-system support.
• Experience designing systems that support data capture, equipment diagnostics, test automation, or repeatable performance measurement.
• Experience applying AI-assisted tools to reduce manual, repetitive work in troubleshooting, documentation, data extraction, video review, or test analysis.

Intralox’s benefit program is a major part of an employee’s total compensation from the company. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including health, dental, vision, and disability insurance, paid time off, 401K, flexible spending account, life and AD&D insurance, long term care, tuition reimbursement, and additional voluntary benefits.

The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Intralox considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training and key skills. Therefore, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their salary expectations.

The position is eligible for one of the following: commissions, discretionary incentives, or production incentives according to the terms of those plans