Senior Controls Engineer - Lead Automation & Commissioning

MissionHires; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship program

Career growth

Autonomy

On-site work

Collaborative culture

Job summary

MissionHires is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer for a fast-growing automation company on-site in Michigan. You will lead design, implementation, commissioning, and documentation of control systems for automated equipment, collaborating with mechanical, project management, and controls teams.

The role includes mentoring junior engineers, supporting projects from concept through customer validation, and traveling domestically and internationally as needed to install and commission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience designing controls for custom automated equipment.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and electrical/pneumatic design.
• Hands-on PLC, HMI, robotics programming experience.
• Strong debugging, validation, and commissioning skills.
• Ability to travel up to 25-30%.
• Mentoring or coaching less-experienced engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and documentation of controls systems for automated equipment.
• Develop and support electrical, pneumatic, PLC, HMI, and robotic control solutions per specs.
• Coordinate machine power-up, debugging, validation, and commissioning activities.
• Ensure designs meet internal standards, customer requirements, schedule and budget.
• Communicate project status and risks across engineering and other departments.
• Provide technical input to quotes, including hours and material costs.
• Mentor, coach, and train entry-level Controls Engineers.
• Complete work with minimal supervision while collaborating with the Controls Engineering Manager.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed for installation and validation.

Skills

Controls engineering

Automation

PLC/HMI programming

Electrical design

Robotics

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Electrical design software

Robotics programming tools

Job description

MissionHires is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer for a fast-growing automation company on-site in Michigan. You will lead design, implementation, commissioning, and documentation of control systems for automated equipment, collaborating with mechanical, project management, and controls teams.

The role includes mentoring junior engineers, supporting projects from concept through customer validation, and traveling domestically and internationally as needed to install and commission.