Senior Automation Engineer

Kids for the Future; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

TGW Systems Inc. is seeking an experienced automation product leader for our Grand Rapids, MI area.

You will develop and communicate a clear product vision aligned with customer requirements and TGW’s business objectives, while managing backlogs and prioritizing tasks based on project needs and customer feedback. You will serve as the main liaison between customers, development, and engineering teams, collaborating on software requirements, specifications, and user stories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 7–10 years of experience in automation, controls engineering, or similar field, ideally within material-handling industry.
• 10% travel, as required.

Responsibilities

• Develops and communicates a clear product vision aligned with customer requirements and TGW’s business objectives.
• Manages product backlogs, prioritizing tasks based on project needs and customer feedback.
• Serves as a point of contact for cross-functional teams, liaising between customer, development, and engineering teams.
• Collaborates on software requirements, technical specifications, and user stories with stakeholders.
• Leads internal showcases and presentations to review progress with stakeholders.
• Conducts and approves testing, including regression tests, to validate software quality and ensure it meets specifications.
• Maintains a forward-looking perspective on the latest technologies to integrate advancements and ensure product competitiveness.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

HMI development (Ignition)

PLC programming (Allen-Bradley & Siem"

Industrial controls

Communication

Task prioritization

Agile/Scrum

Robotics/vision/motion control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

• Location 3001 ORCHARD VISTA DR SE,STE 300,Grand Rapids, MI, 49546-7094,United States
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Travel 10%

Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and communicates a clear product vision that aligns with customer requirements and TGW’s business objectives.
• Manages product backlogs, prioritizing tasks based on project needs and customer feedback.
• Serves as a point of contact for cross-functional teams, acting as the primary liaison between customer, development, and engineering teams.
• Collaborates on software requirements, technical specifications, and user stories with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity.
• Leads internal showcases and presentations to review progress with stakeholders.
• Conducts and approves testing, including regression tests, to validate software quality and ensure it meets specifications.
• Maintains a forward-looking perspective on the latest technologies to integrate advancements and ensure product competitiveness
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent work experience.

Experience: Seven (7) to ten (10) years of experience in automation, controls engineering, or similar field, ideally within material-handling industry.

Travel: 10% travel, as required.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong proficiency in Human Machine Interface (HMI) development (Ignition) and PLC programming (Allen-Bradley and Siemens).
• Thorough knowledge of industrial control systems, automation technologies, and control theory.
• Exceptional communication skills for translating complex technical requirements to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively in alignment with business goals and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Preferred: Background in Agile or Scrum methodologies, experience managing product backlogs and defining acceptance criteria, familiarity with robotics, vision systems, and motion control.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain stationary at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to go to site frequently and move safely around industrial and/or warehouse environment.
• Ability to lift and carry supplies up to 25 pounds at a time.
• Ability to operate computers, tablets, phones, and other electronic devices.
• Ability to communicate with others verbally and in writing, on a frequent basis.
• Ability to tolerate exposure to job site temperature fluctuations due to seasonal weather in geographic region.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Requirements

This position may require work at TGW customer sites. TGW’s customers may require background checks before accessing their sites. Refusal to participate in a customer-required background check may result in a customer barring access and a subsequent reduction in work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

TGW Systems Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.