Lead Controls Engineer, Industrial Automation & Safety

SmartRecruiters, Inc.

Pennsylvania

On-site

USD 91,000 - 130,000

Full time

10 hours ago

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Job summary

Wabtec seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to lead controls projects across multiple manufacturing sites. You will architect controls systems, develop specifications, and program PLCs/ HMIs, focusing on safety, reliability, and scalable automation.

The role combines hands-on engineering with enterprise capability development, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver production-ready solutions and drive improvements across the global supply chain.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
7+ years of industrial controls, automation, systems integration, or advanced manufacturing experience.
Demonstrated leadership of significant controls and capital automation projects.
Advanced PLC and HMI programming experience with strong knowledge of structured software development practices.
Strong understanding of machine safety, motion control, robotics integration, industrial networking, instrumentation, and manufacturing processes.
Experience developing controls architectures, functional specifications, standards, test plans, and commissioning documentation.
Project leadership, technical mentoring, structured troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to travel as required to support enterprise manufacturing sites.

Responsibilities

Lead controls projects from concept and architecture through production launch.
Develop controls architectures, functional specifications, programming standards, and preferred solutions.
Program, review, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, motion, safety, and industrial communication applications.
Lead controls design reviews and verify compliance with technical, safety, maintainability, and cybersecurity requirements.
Develop capital estimates, controls scopes, test plans, and technical requirements for RFQs.
Lead/support vendor selection, panel and software reviews, FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup.
Diagnose complex controls, network, motion, robotics interface, and manufacturing data issues.
Optimize existing systems for reliability, cycle time, diagnostics, maintainability, and production performance.
Identify and replicate successful controls solutions across manufacturing sites.
Support Automation & Advanced Manufacturing roadmap, governance, and technology strategy.
Evaluate emerging controls, connectivity, simulation, and AI-enabled manufacturing technologies.
Mentor site controls resources and provide senior technical leadership during project execution and issue resolution.