Senior Controls Engineer - Lead Automation & PLCs (Onsite)

Hitachi, Ltd.

Nashville (TN)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Medical benefits from day one

Paid parental leave

Unique automation projects

Engineering‑driven environment

Job summary

JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead the full lifecycle of automated control systems. You will design, program, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision, and SCADA across custom automation projects.

You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, mentor engineers, and travel up to 25% to client sites for commissioning and troubleshooting. A strong background in industrial automation is required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
10+ years in controls engineering, automation, or related disciplines.
2+ years leading technical projects with ownership of decisions and execution.
Experience mentoring engineers and driving technical excellence.
Broad experience with industrial automation technologies and industry practices.
Ability to identify systemic issues and implement improvements across departments.
Prior JR Automation experience is strongly preferred.
Proven collaboration across engineering disciplines to solve complex problems.
Hands-on programming and troubleshooting in automated manufacturing environments.
Ability to read and interpret P&IDs is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the full controls lifecycle for new automation builds from concept to final acceptance.
Design and program control systems including PLC logic, HMI, robotics integration, vision, and SCADA.
Design controls architectures to meet customer requirements and specifications.
Support multiple automation projects concurrently focusing on technical quality and schedule.
Lead and collaborate with cross-functional technical teams throughout the project lifecycle.
Serve as a technical expert on controls architecture and programming approaches.
Partner with engineering leadership for development, training, and continuous improvement.
Travel up to 25% to customer sites and company locations for commissioning and troubleshooting.