Senior Controls Engineer

Mission Llc; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Overtime pay (time and a half)

Professional development

Company lunches and events

Employee discounts

Premium pay for travel

Profit-sharing bonuses

Job summary

Mission Design & Automation is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and commissioning of controls for custom automated equipment in Holland, MI. You’ll work with a team that values craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement, mentoring others and owning projects from concept to startup.

This full-time, on-site role offers diverse automation challenges, travel opportunities, and competitive compensation with benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• Experience with automation controls and machinery debugging.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead custom automation projects from concept through startup and own the engineering process.
• Mentor developing engineers and shape the next generation of technical talent.
• Support quoting with concepts, estimating, and technical planning to influence project direction.
• Collaborate with controls, design, build, and project management teams through the project lifecycle.
• Ensure projects meet scope, timeline and budget with minimal supervision.

Skills

AutoCAD

Electrical design

Pneumatic design

Microsoft Office

PLC programming

HMI development

Robotics

Controls software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent technical experience

Job description

Why Join Mission?

At Mission Design & Automation, we build custom automation systems that solve real manufacturing challenges. Every project is different, every solution is engineered from the ground up, and every team member has a direct impact on the final result.

• Challenging, custom automation projects—no repetitive production work.
• The opportunity to lead projects from concept through startup and see your work come to life.
• A collaborative team where knowledge sharing and mentorship are part of the culture.
• Meaningful work that solves complex manufacturing challenges.
• Opportunities to grow professionally while helping develop the next generation of talented engineers, designers, and builders.
• The satisfaction of seeing your designs become real machines that customers rely on every day.

Position Summary:

We’re looking for a Senior Controls Engineer who wants to make an impact.

This role offers the opportunity to lead the design, implementation, and commissioning of controls systems for custom automated equipment, while collaborating with a team that values craftsmanship, innovation, and continuous improvement.

If you enjoy solving complex technical challenges, mentoring other engineers, taking ownership of projects, and seeing your work through from concept to startup, we’d like to meet you.

Location:

Full-Time hourly position onsite in Holland, MI. Shop hours are 7:00am-4:00pm.

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay: $80,000 - $120,000 annually, based on experience.

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid company holidays
• Overtime pay for eligible positions (time and a half over 40 hours)
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Company-sponsored lunches, events, and team activities
• Access to employee resources and exclusive partner discounts
• Premium pay for travel
• Profit-sharing bonuses

What You’ll Do:

As a Senior Controls Engineer at Mission Design and Automation, you will:

• Lead custom automation projects from concept through startup, giving you ownership of the entire engineering process
• Have the opportunity to mentor developing engineers and help shape the next generation of technical talent
• Influence project direction early by supporting the quoting team through concepts, estimating, and technical planning
• Collaborate closely with controls, design, build, and project management teams throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure projects are completed within the quoted scope of work, timeline, and budget
• Have the autonomy to make decisions and drive projects forward with minimal supervision
• Ensure equipment design and program meet internal and external specifications
• See your team’s designs come to life through machine startup, debugging, customer acceptance, and successful production implementation
• Help shape engineering best practices by documenting lessons learned and contributing to continuous improvement across projects
• Work on a wide variety of custom automation challenges, providing continuous opportunities to expand your technical expertise and problem-solving skills
• Make meaningful contributions to projects that deliver innovative manufacturing solutions for customers across a range of industries

What You Bring:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, electrical and pneumatic design, Microsoft Office, PLC programming, HMI development, robotics, and related controls software.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated experience in machinery debugging.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience mentoring, coaching, and developing junior engineers.
• Experience leading controls engineering efforts on custom automation projects.
• Experience estimating controls scope, labor, and material costs.

Don’t Meet Every Qualification?

We understand that no candidate checks every box. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply.

Travel:

Approximately 25% may be required for customer installations and support, including domestic and occasional international travel. Premium pay is provided for travel.

What It’s Like to Work Here:

At Mission, we believe great engineering starts with great people.

You’ll work alongside experienced professionals who enjoy solving difficult problems, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another. We value accountability, trust, continuous improvement, and taking pride in building quality equipment.

Whether you're commissioning a machine, helping a teammate overcome a technical challenge, or celebrating a successful customer startup, your work has a visible impact on our customers and our team.

Why West Michigan?

West Michigan is more than a great place to work. It is a great place to build your life.

West Michigan offers:

• A strong manufacturing and engineering economy
• An affordable cost of living compared to many major metropolitan areas
• A variety of communities, from urban cities to small towns or rural areas, all within a reasonable commute
• Welcoming communities, quality schools, and short commute times that support a healthy work-life balance
• Easy access to both the lakeshore and the city with Holland located just 10 miles from Lake Michigan and 25 miles from downtown Grand Rapids
• Year-round recreation, including beaches, parks, hiking and biking trails, skiing, festivals, local restaurants and breweries, arts and culture, and professional sports

Whether you're looking to advance your engineering career, enjoy an active lifestyle, or put down roots in a growing community, West Michigan offers the opportunity to do all.