Lead Controls Engineer - Automation & Career Growth

Connect Force; Bloomfield Hills (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and performance</n>

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

401(k) with company contribution

Paid vacation and holidays

Career advancement opportunities

Exposure to advanced manufacturing and

Job summary

Connect Force in Metro Detroit Area is seeking a Controls Engineering Supervisor to lead a team in the design, programming, and optimization of complex automated machinery. You will mentor engineers, manage projects, and contribute hands-on engineering work in a precision manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in industrial automation, PLC/HMI programming, electrical controls, and machine integration within custom machinery settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in controls engineering within manufacturing, automation, or custom machinery environments.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or project leadership experience within an engineering team.
• Strong experience with PLC programming platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Beckhoff.
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems and industrial networking.
• Strong understanding of servo systems, motion control, and machine automation.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and controls documentation.
• Hands-on troubleshooting experience with automated machinery and production systems.
• Ability to travel occasionally for machine startup and customer support.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of Controls Engineers on automation and machine build projects.
• Oversee PLC, HMI, motion control, and industrial automation programming activities.
• Assist with project planning, workload coordination, and technical direction for engineering projects.
• Support machine commissioning, startup, debugging, and troubleshooting both internally and at customer facilities.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, service, and project management teams.
• Ensure controls systems meet customer specifications, safety standards, and internal quality expectations.
• Review electrical schematics, system architecture, and controls documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to machine performance, controls reliability, and engineering processes.
• Mentor junior engineers and help develop technical talent within the department.
• Support customer service and field troubleshooting efforts when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Team coordination

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechatronics/Automation Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Beckhoff PLC

HMI/SCADA

Industrial networking

Job description

Connect Force in Metro Detroit Area is seeking a Controls Engineering Supervisor to lead a team in the design, programming, and optimization of complex automated machinery. You will mentor engineers, manage projects, and contribute hands-on engineering work in a precision manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in industrial automation, PLC/HMI programming, electrical controls, and machine integration within custom machinery settings.