Senior Controls Engineer – MES & Digitalization Lead

Blue Chip Talent; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Chip Talent, in partnership with a manufacturing organization, seeks a skilled Controls Engineer – MES & Digitalization to advance plant-wide digitalization initiatives, integrate equipment with MES and data systems, and develop solutions that improve machine connectivity and operational visibility.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on PLC programming with knowledge of manufacturing data collection, SQL, and industrial automation technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years PLC and HMI programming experience.
• Experience with industrial automation systems and MES technologies.
• Experience with data collection, machine connectivity, or MES data integration.
• Working knowledge of SQL, relational databases, and data flows.
• Experience with sensors, I/O, and controls hardware.
• Experience with dashboards and KPI reporting.
• Ability to read and troubleshoot electrical schematics.
• Experience with MES platforms and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Knowledge of OPC/OPC UA, industrial Ethernet, and PLC-to-database communication.
• Experience with Ignition SCADA and/or Power BI.
• Proficiency in Python or related data processing language.
• Experience building manufacturing databases and automated data pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement plant-wide automation, MES, and Industry 4.0 digitalization initiatives
• Integrate equipment, PLCs, and sensors with plant data systems using OPC servers
• Program and modify PLC logic, HMI interfaces, and automation sequences
• Design and maintain SQL queries, databases, and data flows
• Create and optimize dashboards and KPI visualizations (Ignition/Power BI)
• Support equipment installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting
• Interpret electrical schematics and integrate controls hardware and sensors
• Evaluate opportunities and develop roadmaps for digitalization projects

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Industrial automation

SQL data collection

Dashboards (Ignition/Power BI)

Python or data processing

Electrical schematics reading

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

OPC UA

Ignition SCADA

Power BI

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Blue Chip Talent, in partnership with a manufacturing organization, seeks a skilled Controls Engineer – MES & Digitalization to advance plant-wide digitalization initiatives, integrate equipment with MES and data systems, and develop solutions that improve machine connectivity and operational visibility.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on PLC programming with knowledge of manufacturing data collection, SQL, and industrial automation technologies.