Lead Controls Engineer - PLC Upgrades & Startup

Morales Professional, a morales group company; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Morales Professional in Lafayette, IN seeks a hands-on Controls Engineer to lead equipment upgrades, automation projects, and plant-wide controls support. This role collaborates with maintenance, production, vendors, and contractors to move initiatives from concept through startup.

You will design, program, and validate PLC and HMI systems (primarily Allen-Bradley), develop control panels, and help improve safety, reliability, and cost efficiency across the plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or similar field.
• Hands-on PLC logic design, programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley controls and HMI development.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while supporting daily plant needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical and controls projects from design through startup and validation.
• Design and implement upgrades to panels, PLCs, HMIs, drives, and process controls.
• Program and troubleshoot PLC and HMI systems, focusing on Allen-Bradley.
• Provide technical support to maintenance and production teams.
• Prepare estimates, CAPEX requests, work orders, and schedules.
• Coordinate procurement and vendor/contractor activity.
• Improve safety, reliability, productivity, and operating costs.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Project management

Electrical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology

Associate degree + 5+ years industrial manufacturing experience

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

HMI software

VFD programming

Job description

Morales Professional in Lafayette, IN seeks a hands-on Controls Engineer to lead equipment upgrades, automation projects, and plant-wide controls support. This role collaborates with maintenance, production, vendors, and contractors to move initiatives from concept through startup.

You will design, program, and validate PLC and HMI systems (primarily Allen-Bradley), develop control panels, and help improve safety, reliability, and cost efficiency across the plant.