Junior Controls Engineer: PLC & Automation Specialist

HMS Products Co; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

HMS Products Co. is seeking a Controls Engineer to lead design, programming, and commissioning of custom automation systems for automotive and manufacturing industries.

The role requires strong PLC/HMI expertise, electrical design, and adherence to safety standards, with 10–20% travel for on-site support. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in Electrical/Software/Mechatronics or related field and 5+ years of industrial automation experience, plus proficiency in C# and Visual Studio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Software, Mechatronics, Automation, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or custom machine controls.
• Proficiency with PLC/HMI programming (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, Siemens TIA Portal).
• Strong understanding of electrical design, safety circuits, and machine standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and programming of PLC, HMI, and motion control systems for complex automation projects.
• Develop and review system architectures, I/O layouts, and software design documentation.
• Ensure controls and software systems comply with applicable standards (NFPA 79, NEC, ANSI/RIA, ISO, safety PLC).
• Integrate, simulate, and test automation systems both in-house and on-site.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation issues; support installation and start-up at customer facilities.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and project management teams for on-time delivery.
• Define technical scope and support planning, budgeting, and scheduling.
• Manage engineering change requests and version control of code and documentation; support proposals.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Electrical design

Safety systems

Documentation

Travel readiness

C# / Visual Studio

Education

Bachelors in Electrical/Software/Mechatronics/Automation or related field

Tools

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

Siemens TIA Portal

Job description

HMS Products Co. is seeking a Controls Engineer to lead design, programming, and commissioning of custom automation systems for automotive and manufacturing industries.

The role requires strong PLC/HMI expertise, electrical design, and adherence to safety standards, with 10–20% travel for on-site support. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in Electrical/Software/Mechatronics or related field and 5+ years of industrial automation experience, plus proficiency in C# and Visual Studio.