Senior Controls Engineer — Motion Control & Animatronics Lead

LF Studios / LifeFormations; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeFormations in Cincinnati, OH is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead electrical engineering, motion control, and show-control systems for animatronics and themed experiences. You will design complete architectures, drive reliable, maintainable solutions, and mentor a team of engineers and technicians.

The ideal candidate will have 7–10 years in controls, strong servo/motion knowledge, and the ability to travel for installations and commissioning on domestic and international projects.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of professional experience in controls engineering or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and commission complex electromechanical control systems.
• Advanced knowledge of servo motion control, motor drives, and industrial architectures.
• Strong understanding of electrical schematics, control panel design, and safety.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces.
• Experience leading technical projects and mentoring teammates.
• Excellent communication with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for installations and support.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or related field (or equivalent).
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of full controls architectures: power, drives, safety, networks, and animation playback.
• Design, troubleshoot, and document electrical schematics, panels, and wiring diagrams.
• Specify and integrate servo drives, controllers, PLCs, sensors, safety devices, and networks.
• Program and optimize control systems for precise, repeatable motion.
• Integrate subsystems with higher-level supervisory/attraction control.
• Lead FAT/SAT and system troubleshooting; manage commissioning activities.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to engineers and technicians.
• Collaborate with mechanical, production, and project teams to resolve integration challenges.

Skills

Controls engineering

Industrial automation

Robotics

Leadership

Client interfacing

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering/mechatronics

Tools

Weigl show-control

Elmo Motion Control

Harmonic Drive

Copley Controls

Job description

LifeFormations in Cincinnati, OH is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to lead electrical engineering, motion control, and show-control systems for animatronics and themed experiences. You will design complete architectures, drive reliable, maintainable solutions, and mentor a team of engineers and technicians.

The ideal candidate will have 7–10 years in controls, strong servo/motion knowledge, and the ability to travel for installations and commissioning on domestic and international projects.