Senior Controls Engineer – Automated Distribution (Remote)

SanMar- External; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

401k plan and matches up to 4%

Life insurance

Short/long-term disability

Paid parental leave

Pet insurance

Job summary

SanMar seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to lead optimization, maintenance, and expansion of our automated wholesale distribution network. You will anchor AMHS operations, supporting design, programming, and troubleshooting for PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and networked systems across OT and WMS integrations.

You will validate hardware/software control strategies, manage FAT and on-site startup, and collaborate with software teams to ensure seamless data flow with WCS/WMS.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 PLC code, HMIs, and SCADA software, configure, and optimize PLCs and HMI/SCADA systems to maximize warehouse throughput.
• Lead the technical support, logic tuning, and deployment of conveyors, high-speed sorters, ASRS.
• Oversee FAT, system validation, and on-site startup troubleshooting.
• Partner with software teams to integrate hardware controls with WCS and WMS for seamless data flow.
• Act as the Tier-3 escalation point for complex electrical, mechanical, and network faults to minimize downtime.
• Partner with project management teams on automation capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management and 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.

Skills

Industrial controls engineering

Project collaboration

Troubleshooting

Lean Six Sigma

Education

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

Tools

Studio 5000/Logix

Siemens TIA Portal

EtherNet/IP

Profinet

Modbus

SCADA software

HMI development

Job description

SanMar seeks a Senior Controls Engineer to lead optimization, maintenance, and expansion of our automated wholesale distribution network. You will anchor AMHS operations, supporting design, programming, and troubleshooting for PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and networked systems across OT and WMS integrations.

You will validate hardware/software control strategies, manage FAT and on-site startup, and collaborate with software teams to ensure seamless data flow with WCS/WMS.