Lead Automation Controls Engineer – Ground-Up PLC/HMI Development

Zaddy Solutions; Town of Germantown (WI); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Comprehensive benefits

Comp time for weekend work

Job summary

Zaddy Solutions in Wisconsin is seeking a Lead Automation Controls Engineer to design and implement ground-up PLC/HMI software for complex automated machinery, including sorting systems and robotic cells. You will work in a high-tech Greater Milwaukee lab, travel 25–50% for commissioning, and own projects from design to startup with guaranteed comp days for weekend work.

This role offers a fast-growth environment with minimal bureaucracy, strong leadership access, and a focus on delivering

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience designing, building, and programming controls software from scratch using Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms (Studio 5000 / RSLogix).
• Technical degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, CS or related discipline.
• Willingness to travel domestically 25%–50% for commissioning, with guaranteed weekend comp days.
• Demonstrated stability and long-term commitment with prior engineering teams.
• Residence within 45-minute drive of Greater Milwaukee / Washington County area.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder.

Responsibilities

• Architect Ground-Up PLC/HMI Software: Develop robust PLC programs and intuitive HMI interfaces using Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View.
• Engineer High-Level Interfaces: Integrate operator interfaces with Visual Studio, C#, and relational databases for data tracking.
• Audit Control Schematics: Review AutoCAD layouts and BOMs for safety compliance.
• Configure Industrial Networks & Motion: Set up EtherNet/IP, servo drives, motion control, and machine vision systems.
• Lead On-Site Client Commissioning: Act as primary technical authority during field deployments and sign-offs.

Skills

2+ years controls depth

Ground-Up controls

Vision & Motion integration

Robotics exposure

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Automation Technology or Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Studio 5000

RSLogix

FactoryTalk View

AutoCAD

EtherNet/IP

Visual Studio

C#

SQL

Job description

Lead Automation Controls Engineer – Ground-Up PLC/HMI Development

Up to $110,000 Base Salary + Profit Sharing Greater Milwaukee Area Travel Flex Direct-Hire

• Compensation & Incentives: Up to $110,000 starting base salary (calibrated for Junior, Mid, and Senior experience depth) + profit sharing + comprehensive corporate benefits package.
• Work Schedule: Flexible day shift in the engineering lab with 25%–50% domestic travel for commissioning, featuring guaranteed, immediate comp days for weekend startup work.
• Work Environment: High-tech engineering lab in the Greater Milwaukee / Washington County corridor; anti-monotony, zero-bureaucracy culture with direct access to project leadership.
• Experience & Tech Stack: 2+ years of controls depth; ground-up Allen-Bradley / Rockwell (Studio 5000, RSLogix, FactoryTalk View) programming; EtherNet/IP, multi-axis servo motion control, and AutoCAD schematics.
• Company Stability & Culture: Premier, fast-growing systems integration firm that has doubled its footprint year-over-year; highly protective of engineering work-life balance with strict travel-comp policies.
• Requirements & Compliance: U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder; degree in Automation, EE, CS, or related engineering discipline; local residence within a 45-minute commute of Washington County / Greater Milwaukee.

If you are looking for the ultimate antidote to career burnout, this custom systems integration role offers the ideal escape from repetitive plant maintenance loops and rigid corporate templates. Operating out of a collaborative engineering facility in the Greater Milwaukee / Washington County corridor, this rapidly expanding firm functions with an engineering philosophy centered around custom, ground-up innovation. Every project is unique—ranging from high-speed sortation networks to robotic welding cells and complex multi-axis servo systems.

Your time and dedication are protected aggressively here. Recognizing that field commissioning takes energy, a non-negotiable travel-balancing policy is strictly enforced: if a customer startup requires weekend work, you are immediately awarded comp time so you return home to a full four-day weekend. With zero corporate bureaucracy, massive technical variety, and full ownership from design to startup, this environment is built for engineers who take pride in seeing their custom software drive heavy industrial machinery.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Architect Ground-Up PLC/HMI Software: Develop robust PLC programs and intuitive HMI interfaces completely from scratch for complex automated machinery, robotic cells, and specialized sorting systems using Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View.
• Engineer High-Level Interfaces: Integrate operator interfaces and explore advanced system capabilities using Visual Studio, C#, and relational databases for enterprise-level data tracking.
• Audit Control Schematics: Review, verify, and validate detailed electrical panel layouts and control schematics in AutoCAD to align with Bills of Materials (BOMs) and safety compliance standards.
• Configure Industrial Networks & Motion: Set up, calibrate, and troubleshoot EtherNet/IP communications, multi-axis servo drives, machine vision systems, and safety PLCs.
• Lead On-Site Client Commissioning: Serve as the primary technical authority during client field deployments, supervising installations and executing final system sign-offs.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Ground-Up Allen-Bradley Depth: 2+ years of professional experience designing, building, and programming controls software from scratch using Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms (Studio 5000 / RSLogix), beyond simple code troubleshooting.
• Technical Engineering Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Automation Technology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Field Mobility & Travel Readiness: Willingness to travel domestically 25% to 50% to champion custom integration rollouts, backed by guaranteed weekend comp days.
• Career Reliability: Proven professional stability demonstrating tenure, accountability, and long-term commitment with prior engineering teams.
• Local Commute: Residence within a comfortable 45-minute driving radius of the Greater Milwaukee / Washington County area.
• Legal Authorization: Must be a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Vision & Motion Integration: Hands-on setup of multi-axis servo motion systems or industrial vision platforms (Cognex, Keyence).
• Advanced Language Coding: High-level programming fluency in C#, VB.NET, or SQL database structures.
• Robotics Experience: Direct path teaching, programming, or integration experience with FANUC or similar industrial robotics.