Senior Controls Engineer (Automated Distribution)

SanMar; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401k with company match

Life insurance

Short/long-term disability

Paid maternity/paternity leave

Pet insurance

Job summary

SanMar is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead optimization, maintenance, and expansion of automated distribution networks. You will anchor high-volume facilities, ensure AMHS peak efficiency, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and industrial networks while bridging OT and WMS.

You will oversee FATs, vendor management, and factory acceptance testing, and collaborate with software teams to integrate WCS/WMS data flows. Travel 50-60% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, or related field.
• 4+ years in industrial controls engineering; 2+ years in high-volume DCs or logistics hubs.
• Proficiency with Allen-Bradley or Siemens, and industrial networks.
• Hands-on with barcode scanners, labeling systems, and sorters.
• Experience with AGVs/AMRs and bridging PLC data to cloud preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on hardware/software control strategies and electrical schematics.
• Develop and debug PLC, HMI, and SCADA software; optimize PLCs and HMI/SCADA systems.
• Lead deployment of conveyors, sorters, and ASRS; support FAT and on-site startup.
• Integrate hardware controls with WCS and WMS for seamless data flow.
• Serve as Tier-3 escalation for electrical, mechanical, and network faults.
• Partner with project teams on automation capital projects and FAT.
• Mentor multisite maintenance technicians and junior engineers.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Automation

Industrial networks

SQL

Python

Lean/Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation

Tools

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000/Logix

Siemens TIA Portal

EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus

Job description

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:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision 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
• Pet insurance

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.