Lead Controls & MES Engineer for Ground-Up Automation

North-Point-Technology; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 105,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

North Point Technology in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking an experienced Controls / MES Engineer to lead a ground‑up manufacturing automation implementation for a major automotive manufacturer. The role covers design, programming, integration, and commissioning of controls and MES interfaces with a focus on Rockwell Studio 5000, Ignition, and PLC‑to‑MES integration.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience from design through production launch, including PLC/HMI development and commissioning, and

Qualifications

• Strong hands‑on experience with Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix/GuardLogix and Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000
• Demonstrated experience writing new PLC programs from scratch
• Hands‑on experience with Inductive Automation Ignition
• Experience developing Ignition screens, tagging, scripting, and architecture
• Experience integrating PLCs with MES or manufacturing information systems
• Understanding of work‑order validation, traceability, recipes, production reporting, and serial‑number tracking
• Experience commissioning automated manufacturing equipment
• Strong troubleshooting across controls hardware, PLC software, networks, and production systems
• Experience in automotive or high‑volume discrete manufacturing environments
• Experience generating ZPL code and Zebra printers integration
• Industrial networking: Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, SQL or similar

Responsibilities

• Design and develop Allen‑Bradley PLC programs from the ground up using RSLogix 5000 / Studio 5000
• Develop PLC architecture: ladder logic, tags, UDTs, AOIs, sequencing, diagnostics
• Design and build Ignition HMI/SCADA applications and configurations
• Develop and implement PLC‑to‑MES communication
• Create PLC/MES transaction and handshake logic for manufacturing operations
• Support work‑order verification, traceability, recipes, production reporting
• Integrate barcode scanners, RFID systems and production tracking equipment
• Configure Zebra industrial label printers and generate ZPL code
• Develop automated label printing tied to production events and cycles
• Perform startup, debugging, FAT/SAT, and production launch activities
• Troubleshoot PLC/HMI/MES networks and equipment communications
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, IT/MES teams, equipment integrators
• Maintain controls documentation, system architecture, backups and commissioning records

Skills

Allen‑Bradley PLCs

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

MES integration

Automation design

commissioning

System design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

RSLogix 5000

Studio 5000

Ignition

Zebra printers

Ethernet/IP

Job description

North Point Technology in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking an experienced Controls / MES Engineer to lead a ground‑up manufacturing automation implementation for a major automotive manufacturer. The role covers design, programming, integration, and commissioning of controls and MES interfaces with a focus on Rockwell Studio 5000, Ignition, and PLC‑to‑MES integration.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience from design through production launch, including PLC/HMI development and commissioning, and