Senior Automation Engineer

Innovate; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovate, Fort Lauderdale-based engineering partner, seeks a Senior Automation Design Engineer to own automation projects end-to-end—from bidding and detailed design through build and commissioning. Lead a small controls team, mentor two engineers, and drive advanced motion control initiatives in a growing division.

This hands-on role emphasizes collaborative leadership, practical problem-solving, and delivering robust automation solutions for complex machinery.

Qualifications

• AutoCAD Electrical experience preferred.
• Extensive PLC programming experience in Studio 5000.
• Hands-on controls engineering with end-to-end ownership.

Responsibilities

• Create PLC programs from concept to completion in the Allen-Bradley / Rockwell ecosystem (Studio 5000, Ladder Logic).
• Develop servo motion control and tune Rockwell Kinetix drives; create motion profiles.
• Produce electrical wiring schematics in AutoCAD Electrical and design enclosure layouts.
• Configure HMI using PanelView and FactoryTalk.
• Own projects from bid-stage modelling through design, manufacture, build and commissioning.
• Program AC drives (PowerFlex 525) and perform servo debugging.
• Create Functional Design Specifications (FDS) and electrical BOMs.
• Select and integrate sensors and encoders; interface with motors.
• Design Ethernet layouts and IP addressing; apply machine safety requirements.
• Create or modify pneumatic schematics as needed.

Skills

Ladder Logic

Studio 5000

CompactLogix

ControlLogix

Kinetix servo drives

Servo debugging

PowerFlex 525

Electrical schematics

HMI/PanelView

Electrical BOMs

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Studio 5000 Motion

Job description

Own the controls. Lead the team. Build something that matters.

Our client is a long-established, highly respected machine builder with over 115 years of engineering heritage, specialising in custom, modular printing and decorating machinery. Driven by rapid growth — particularly within their three-dimensional medical device printing machine division — they are seeking a Senior Automation Design Engineer to take a leading role in the design and delivery of their automation and control systems.

This is a hands-on, senior technical position with genuine influence over the direction of the engineering function. You will own automation projects end-to-end: from conceptual modelling at the bidding stage, through full electrical design, and into manufacture, build and commissioning. This role suits a strong controls engineer who wants to help shape and lead an engineering team, not simply execute assigned tasks.

Reporting into engineering leadership, you will lead an established team of two controls engineers, with the opportunity to develop, mentor and grow the team as the division continues to expand. Cultural fit is valued as highly as technical skill — our client is looking for a collaborative, dependable engineer who wants to be part of building something long-term.

Key Responsibilities

• Create PLC programs from concept to completion, written from scratch within the Allen-Bradley / Rockwell ecosystem (Studio 5000, Ladder Logic)
• Develop servo motion control, including programming and tuning Rockwell Kinetix servo drives and creating motion profiles using Studio 5000 Motion
• Produce and interpret electrical wiring schematics in AutoCAD Electrical, and design electrical enclosure layouts
• Configure HMI and visualisation systems using Allen-Bradley PanelView and FactoryTalk
• Own projects from initial concept and bid-stage modelling through detailed design, manufacture, build and completion
• Program AC drives (e.g. Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525) and carry out servo motor debugging and initial programming
• Create Functional Design Specifications (FDS) and Bills of Materials for electrical enclosure components (PLCs, HMIs, terminals, drives, power supplies, relays, sensors, breakers, main disconnects, servo drives and motors, etc.)
• Select and integrate field devices — photo eyes, proximity and laser sensors, and encoders — and program them to interface with AC and servo motors
• Design Ethernet layouts and configure IP addressing for system components
• Apply machine safety requirements throughout design and build
• Create or modify pneumatic schematics as required

Required Skills & Experience

• AutoCAD Electrical (2020–2023)
• Allen-Bradley PLC programming in Studio 5000
• CompactLogix and ControlLogix
• Kinetix 5500 and Kinetix 5700 servo drives
• Demonstrated ability to write PLC programs from scratch in Ladder Logic, from concept to completion
• Experience programming AC drives (e.g. Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525)
• Servo motor debugging and initial programming, including motion profile logic
• Experience creating Functional Design Specifications (FDS) and electrical BOMs
• Working knowledge of machine safety requirements
• Experience selecting and integrating photo eyes, proximity and laser sensors, and encoders
• Experience creating Ethernet layouts and IP address configurations

What We're Looking For

A genuinely hands-on engineer who is comfortable close to the build, not purely desk-based. A collaborative team player who takes ownership of projects from start to finish, and who has an interest in developing leadership skills and growing a team over time. Most importantly, someone motivated to be part of a growing, established business.