Senior Controls Engineer

Apex Controls; Hudsonville (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Controls in the United States is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead projects from concept through commissioning. You will own automation solutions, work directly with customers, and contribute from design to startup.

The role requires 7+ years in controls engineering, strong PLC programming (Allen-Bradley preferred), HMI/SCADA development, and the ability to travel up to 25%. You'll collaborate across sales, panel builders, electricians, and project managers to deliver complete

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 7+ years of controls engineering experience.
• Strong PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley preferred).
• Experience with HMI and SCADA development.

Responsibilities

• Meet with customers to understand their operational goals and automation needs.
• Concepting control system architectures and automation strategies.
• Creating hardware designs for control systems.
• Developing software for PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
• Collaborating across teams including sales, panel builders, electricians, technicians, and project managers.
• Leading system testing, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Providing technical guidance and mentorship to other engineering team members.
• Building long-term customer relationships through exceptional service and problem-solving.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA development

Industrial networking

Customer-facing leadership

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field

Job description

Description

Senior Controls Engineer

Design Solutions. Build Relationships. Solve Complex Automation Challenges.

At APEX Controls, our Senior Controls Engineers do more than write code. They partner directly with customers, lead projects from concept through commissioning, and deliver automation solutions that make a real impact. If you're looking for a role where you can own projects from start to finish, work with cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with a talented team, and still maintain a healthy work-life balance, we'd love to talk with you.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Controls Engineer, you'll serve as a trusted technical resource for our customers, helping them solve complex manufacturing and automation challenges. This is a true cradle-to-grave engineering role where you'll be involved throughout the entire project lifecycle, including:

• Meeting with customers to understand their operational goals and automation needs
• Concepting control system architectures and automation strategies
• Creating hardware designs
• Developing software for PLC, HMI, and SCADAsystems
• Collaborating across teams including but not limited to sales, panel builders, electricians, technicians, and project managers
• Leading system testing, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities
• Providing technical guidance and mentorship to other engineering team members
• Building long-term customer relationships through exceptional service and innovative problem-solving

What Makes This Role Different

Many engineering roles focus on only one piece of a project. At APEX, you'll have the opportunity to see your work come to life. You'll work directly with customers, influence project direction, and experience the satisfaction of delivering complete solutions that improve operations, increase efficiency, and solve real-world manufacturing challenges. This is a role for someone who enjoys ownership, collaboration, and the variety that comes with working on diverse automation projects.

Why APEX Controls?

We're passionate about automation, but we're equally passionate about our people. Our culture is built around collaboration, trust, and supporting one another. We believe great work happens when talented people have the freedom to contribute, innovate, and grow without sacrificing life outside of work. At APEX, you'll find:

• Challenging and meaningful automation projects
• Direct customer engagement and long-term relationships
• A collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Opportunities to mentor and lead
• Flexibility and a strong commitment to work-life balance
• A culture where your ideas and contributions matter
• A team that genuinely enjoys solving difficult problems together

Join Our Team

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
• 7+ years of controls engineering experience
• Strong PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley preferred)
• Experience with HMI and SCADA development
• Knowledge of industrial networking and automation systems
• Ability to lead customer-facing projects and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel overnight up to 25%