Mechatronics Controls Engineer -Concrete Products

Columbia Machine, Inc.; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

Columbia Machine, Inc. is seeking a Mechatronics Controls Engineer to design, develop, program, integrate, test, and commission automated machinery across product lifecycles from concept to field startup.

You will work with mechanical and electrical teams to develop PLC/HMI/SCADA systems, safety circuits, and comprehensive documentation, with travel to customer sites up to 30% and mentoring responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, robotics, or machine design.

Responsibilities

• Develop, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, motion control, SCADA, and robotic systems.
• Design machine control logic, safety circuits, and operational sequences.
• Develop and maintain automation standards, reusable software modules, and engineering documentation.
• Support remote diagnostics, troubleshooting, and performance improvements.
• Travel to customer sites for startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, optimization, and training activities.
• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers, service, and customers to ensure seamless integration.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Project management

Documentation

Communication

Independent work

Customer focus

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics or related field

Tools

Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) PLCs

Mitsubishi PLCs

FactoryTalk ME

FactoryTalk View SE

Motion control & servo systems

Yaskawa robotics

EtherNet/IP / Profinet / Modbus TCP/IP

Job description

Position Summary

The Mechatronics Controls Engineer is responsible for the design, development, programming, integration, testing, and commissioning of automated machinery and equipment. This position combines electrical, controls, robotics, software engineering, SCADA, and a solid knowledge of mechanical principles to deliver reliable, high-performance automation solutions. The engineer will work closely with mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing, service, and project management teams throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept through field startup and customer support.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Controls Engineering & Automation

• Develop, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, motion control, SCADA, and robotic systems.
• Configure and commission controls systems, servo systems, VFDs, industrial networks, sensors, and vision systems.
• Design machine control logic, safety circuits, and operational sequences.
• Develop and maintain automation standards, reusable software modules, and engineering documentation.
• Support remote diagnostics, troubleshooting, and performance improvements.
• Mentor newer engineers.
• Design and integrate electro‑mechanical systems including actuators, conveyors, robotics, pneumatics, hydraulics, sensors, and machine interfaces.
• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as service to ensure seamless integration of machine systems.
• Participate in machine risk assessments and safety reviews.
• Evaluate new technologies and recommend improvements to product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

Machine Development & Testing

• Perform system validation and functional testing during assembly and startup.
• Assist in prototype development and R&D activities for new products and enhancements.
• Support troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, software, and systems integration issues.
• Analyze machine performance data and implement corrective actions as needed.

Project Execution

• Support projects from concept through design, manufacturing, installation, and customer acceptance.
• Generate Bills of Material (BOMs), I/O lists, functional specifications, operators’ manuals, and engineering documentation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to meet project schedules and customer requirements.
• Provide technical support to Sales, Manufacturing, Service, and Customer Care teams.

Field Support

• Travel to customer sites for startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, optimization, and training activities.
• Work directly with customers to diagnose and resolve equipment performance issues.
• Support machine upgrades, retrofits, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Controls & Software
  • PLC Programming (Rockwell and Mitsubishi)
  • HMI Development (FactoryTalk ME and Mitsubishi)
  • SCADA Development (FactoryTalk View SE)
  • Motion Control and Servo Systems (Rockwell and Indramat)
  • Industrial Robotics (Yaskawa)
  • Industrial Networking
    • EtherNet/IP
    • Profinet
    • Modbus TCP/IP
  • Basic programming/scripting experience (Structured Text, Python, C#, or equivalent)

Mechanical & Electrical Systems

• Sensors and Instrumentation
• Pneumatic Systems
• Hydraulic Systems
• Industrial Electrical Design
• Machine Safety Standards
• Electrical and Mechanical Schematics.
• Control Panel Design
• Machine Vision Systems

Skills

• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills
• Project and process management
• Technical documentation development
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams
• Customer-focused mindset
• Continuous improvement orientation

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, robotics, or machine design.

Preferred

• Experience with capital equipment manufacturing.
• Experience integrating robotics and vision systems.
• Experience commissioning automated production systems.
• Familiarity with machine safety standards including ANSI, NFPA 79, ISO 13849, UL508A and CE requirements.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, and customer site environments.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb ladders, and work around industrial equipment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Travel

• Up to 30% travel based on project requirements.
• Efforts are made for advance notice, however there can be urgent situations that require short notice travel.
• Travel up to 3 weeks in duration prior to returning home.

Success Measures

• Delivers projects on schedule and within budget.
• Produces reliable, maintainable control systems.
• Supports successful equipment startup and customer acceptance.
• Reduces machine downtime through effective design and troubleshooting.
• Contributes to continuous product improvement and innovation.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability To Commute/relocate

• Vancouver, WA 98661: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

We offer a comprehensive benefits package. Equal Opportunity Employer – Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply. Columbia does participate in E‑Verify. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The company does not sponsor employment visas or work authorization.