Senior Controls & Automation Project Lead

Diamond Peak Recruiting; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Diamond Peak Recruiting is seeking a Project Engineering Manager – Controls & Automation to lead controls engineering projects for a conveyor and material-handling team. This role combines technical leadership with controls project management, guiding from design and programming through installation, commissioning, and customer acceptance.

The ideal candidate has extensive industrial automation experience, strong knowledge of conveyor systems, and the ability to coordinate engineering teams,

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of experience in industrial controls, automation, or a closely related engineering field.
• Direct experience with conveyor and material-handling systems.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation and Allen-Bradley control platforms.
• Knowledge of HMI development, industrial networks, and control-system architecture.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and electrical control drawings.
• Experience managing controls projects, engineering teams, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.
• Ability to lead multiple technical workstreams through design, installation, startup, and commissioning.
• Strong communication, organization, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% outside the local area.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering projects from initial concept through installation, commissioning, and closeout.
• Manage the technical design and execution of conveyor and material-handling control systems.
• Develop project schedules, engineering plans, resource requirements, and technical deliverables.
• Coordinate controls engineers, programmers, designers, vendors, subcontractors, and field teams.
• Review and approve PLC programs, HMI applications, control-panel designs, network architecture, and electrical drawings.
• Ensure engineering work meets project specifications, customer requirements, applicable codes, and internal quality standards.
• Monitor project budgets, schedules, milestones, risks, and scope changes.
• Serve as a primary technical and project-management contact for customers.
• Support equipment integration, system testing, startup, troubleshooting, and onsite commissioning.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and direction to controls engineering team members.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, installation, and operations teams to deliver fully integrated systems.
• Identify potential project risks and develop corrective-action plans when necessary.

Skills

Industrial controls

Project management

PLC programming

Team leadership

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical/controls/automation engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Allen-Bradley

Rockwell Automation

Job description

Diamond Peak Recruiting is seeking a Project Engineering Manager – Controls & Automation to lead controls engineering projects for a conveyor and material-handling team. This role combines technical leadership with controls project management, guiding from design and programming through installation, commissioning, and customer acceptance.

The ideal candidate has extensive industrial automation experience, strong knowledge of conveyor systems, and the ability to coordinate engineering teams,