Senior Controls Engineer – Precision Automation

Connect Force; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in Farmington Hills, MI to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. This hands-on role centers on designing, programming, debugging, startup, and optimization of advanced industrial machinery with emphasis on PLCs, HMIs, and electrical controls.

You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, service, and customer teams to support custom equipment builds and ensure safety, quality, and reliability

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years in controls engineering or related industrial equipment.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with HMI development and machine software support.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical docs.
• Experience with industrial machinery, automation systems, or machine tools.
• Hands-on troubleshooting in shop-floor, build, or field-service environments.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, service, production, and customers.
• Strong communication to explain technical issues clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, troubleshoot, and support PLC and HMI programs for advanced machinery.
• Support controls activities for custom builds, retrofits, upgrades, and projects.
• Troubleshoot electrical, software, automation, and machine-control issues during build, startup, and service.
• Work with PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, motion systems, safety circuits, and networks.
• Read electrical schematics, controls drawings, layouts, and docs.
• Support startup, debugging, validation, and customer acceptance.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical design, service, production, and international teams.
• Provide technical support for customers and internal teams.
• Assist with controls standards, documentation, and troubleshooting best practices.
• Maintain focus on safety, quality, and reliability.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Electrical controls

Schematic reading

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety-focused

Communication skills

Tools

Siemens PLCs

Siemens HMIs

TIA Portal

Profinet/Ethernet/IP/Profibus

Job description

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in Farmington Hills, MI to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. This hands-on role centers on designing, programming, debugging, startup, and optimization of advanced industrial machinery with emphasis on PLCs, HMIs, and electrical controls.

You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, service, and customer teams to support custom equipment builds and ensure safety, quality, and reliability