Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

SURGE Staffing; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Summer hours

Positive, collaborative culture

Job summary

Surge Staffing in Troy, MI seeks an experienced Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to design, program, integrate, and commission control systems for diverse projects. You will work with a team to take designs from concept through start-up, with strong PLC and Siemens drive expertise and hands-on troubleshooting experience.

The role emphasizes collaboration with clients and contractors, travel for meetings and site work, and hands-on validation of system performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering required.
• 5+ years designing, building, and programming PLC systems.
• 5+ years ladder logic programming experience.
• Experience with Siemens PLC and drive platforms (Step 7, S120).
• Experience with engine test cell instrumentation and controls.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review control system architecture, diagrams, and specs.
• Perform risk analyses for safe system design and operation.
• Create BOMs, instrument indexes, and documentation.
• Develop wiring schematics and control panel layouts.
• Program and integrate HMIs and PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, GE, Wago).
• Test functionality at facility and customer sites.
• Prepare wire pull schedules and scope-of-work documents.
• Lead on-site start-up, commissioning, and validation.
• Perform I/O checkout, troubleshoot, calibrate instrumentation, tune PID loops.
• Validate programming against control sequences.
• Collaborate with clients and teams, manage changes in scope.

Skills

PLC programming

Siemens PLC

ladder logic

HMI programming

AutoCAD Electrical

p&id interpretation

troubleshooting

start-up commissioning

team collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Step 7 / S120 (Siemens)

GE / Wago platforms

Job description

Travel: 25-40% domestic travel, including overnight stays

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to support the design, programming, integration, and commissioning of control systems for complex research and development, production, process, and industrial projects.

Based in Troy, Michigan, this role collaborates with a team of controls engineers to deliver projects from initial design through equipment start-up and validation. The ideal candidate brings strong PLC programming skills, experience with Siemens PLC and drive platforms, and hands‑on expertise in troubleshooting and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and review control system architecture, flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), control sequences, and design specifications.
• Conduct risk and hazard analyses to support safe system design and operation.
• Create responsibility matrices, instrument indexes, bills of material (BOMs), and other project documentation.
• Develop and review wiring schematics and control panel layout drawings.
• Program and integrate Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, GE, and Wago platforms.
• Design, set up, and perform system functionality tests at the manufacturing facility and customer sites.
• Prepare wire pull schedules and scope-of-work documents for contractor bidding and construction.
• Perform onsite equipment start-up, commissioning, and validation.
• Complete input/output (I/O) checkout, troubleshoot systems, calibrate instrumentation, and tune PID loops.
• Validate programming to confirm systems operate according to established control sequences.
• Collaborate with project teams, clients, and contractors while managing changes in deadlines, scope, and design.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Experience preparing drawings using AutoCAD Electrical.
• At least five years of experience designing, building, and programming PLC systems, including field experience from design through start-up.
• At least five years of ladder logic programming experience.
• Experience with Siemens PLC and drive platforms, such as Step 7, S120, or similar Siemens technologies.
• Experience with engine test cell instrumentation and controls, including design, integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
• Ability to interpret and create P&IDs.
• Strong client service skills and the ability to balance multiple projects while adapting to changing requirements.
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and time management abilities.
• A collaborative approach, initiative to develop professional skills, and the ability to work effectively with internal and external teams.
• Willingness to travel domestically approximately 25-40%, including overnight stays, for design meetings, equipment installation supervision, and commissioning.

Benefits & Work Environment

• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid time off.
• Summer hours.
• A positive, collaborative company culture.