Senior Controls Engineer (Automated Distribution)

SanMar Corp.; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan with matches

Life insurance

Short/long-term disability

Paid maternity/paternity leave

Job summary

SanMar seeks a Senior Controls Engineer (Automated Distribution) to lead optimization, maintenance, and expansion of our AMHS network. You’ll be the technical anchor for high-volume facilities, ensuring PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and industrial networks operate at peak efficiency while bridging OT and WMS.

You will champion hardware/software control strategies, support FAT, on-site startups, and partner with software teams to integrate controls with WCS/WMS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent hands-on experience in controls engineering.
• 4+ years in industrial controls with high-volume distribution or logistics.
• Strong experience with PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA.
• Experience with AMRs/AGVs preferred.
• Willingness to travel 50-60% domestically.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on hardware/software control strategy architecture and electrical schematics.
• Write and debug PLC code, HMIs, and SCADA; configure PLCs and HMI/SCADA systems.
• Lead support, tuning, and deployment of conveyors, sorters, ASRS.
• Oversee FAT, validation, and on-site startup troubleshooting.
• Integrate hardware controls with WCS/WMS for data flow.
• Serve as Tier-3 escalation for faults to minimize downtime.
• Manage automation capital projects from concept to FAT, including vendor management and budgeting.
• Guide multisite technicians and junior engineers on troubleshooting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with policies and standards.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Automation

Industrial controls

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA systems

AMRs/AGVs

SQL/Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related field

Tools

Studio 5000/Logix (Allen-Bradley)

Siemens TIA Portal

EtherNet/IP

Profinet

Modbus

HMI/SCADA software

Job description

Senior Controls Engineer (Automated Distribution)

Remote

At SanMar, the work you do makes a difference.

What's the Short Version?

The Senior Controls Engineer leads the optimization, maintenance, and expansion of our automated wholesale distribution network. They are the technical anchor for our high-volume facilities, ensuring our Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) operates at peak efficiency. They support and contribute to design, programming, and perform troubleshooting measures for PLCs, industrial networks, and robotic sorting systems while bridging the gap between our operational technology (OT) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).

What Will You Be Doing?

• Collaborate on and validate the architecture strategy of hardware and software control strategies, validate and provide input on electrical schematics, and layouts for control panels.
• Collaborate on writing and debugging Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) code, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, configure, and optimize PLCs (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens) and HMI/SCADA systems to maximize warehouse throughput.
• Lead the technical support, logic tuning, and deployment of conveyors, high-speed sorters, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS).
• Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), system validation, and on-site startup troubleshooting.
• Partner with software teams to integrate hardware controls with Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) for seamless data flow.
• Act as the Tier-3 escalation point for complex electrical, mechanical, and network faults to minimize critical supply chain downtime.
• Partner with project management teams on automation capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management, budget oversight, and factory acceptance testing (FAT).
• Guide and train multisite maintenance technicians and junior engineers on advanced troubleshooting and automation best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

What Are We Looking For?

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, or a related technical field (equivalent hands‑on experience will be considered).
• 4+ years years of experience in industrial controls engineering, with at least 2 years dedicated to high-volume distribution centers, e-commerce fulfillment, or logistics hubs.
• Advanced proficiency with Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000/Logix) or Siemens (TIA Portal), and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus).
• Hands‑on experience with barcode scanners, print‑and‑apply labeling systems, and automated weight/dimension check zones.
• Experience with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) or Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) is preferred.
• Knowledge of SQL databases, Python, or scripting languages used to bridge PLC data to the cloud is preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies is preferred.
• Domestic Travel 50-60%

What's Our Offer?

Salary Range: You`ll earn between $120,000 - $170,000 annually, depending on experience.

Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 10% of base salary.

Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi‑weekly basis based on hours worked up to 112 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.

Additional Benefits:

• 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
• Life insurance
• Short/long‑term disability coverage
• Paid maternity/paternity leave

What Should You Expect?

Remote: Our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. Periodic travel may be required. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods while working on a computer and participating in virtual and in‑person meetings. Frequent use of hands for keyboarding and standard office equipment is required. Occasional standing, walking, and reaching may be needed to attend meetings or collaborate in an office setting. The role requires the ability to perform close visual work on a computer for extended periods. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10–15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Why Work at SanMar?

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. They bring their talent, passion and dedication to work with them every day. Their hard work inspires us and gives us purpose. We love working here together.
Whether you work in our headquarters, from your home or in one of our distribution centers across North America, we believe that investing in you is just the right thing to do. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health and well-being, life balance, career growth and (eventually) retirement.
SanMar works with brands you already know, like Nike, The North Face and Brooks Brothers, as well as providing industry‑leading private label apparel and accessories. Our people come to work excited to do their part, providing clothing that helps people feel that they’re a part of something special.
Here’s your chance to be a part of this story. If you’re ready to work in a place where your participation matters and your growth is a priority, we’re ready for you.

SanMar is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whoever you love or follow in faith, whatever your disability or superpower status, whichever ethnicity or gender you identify with, you are welcome at SanMar.

SanMar participates in E-Verify.