Senior Controls Engineer — Precision Automation & Global Builds

Connect Force; West Bloomfield Charter Township (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. You will design, program, troubleshoot, startup, and optimize advanced industrial machinery with PLCs, HMIs, and safety systems, collaborating across mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

The role emphasizes experience with Siemens automation platforms, field service, and international collaboration, supporting European OEM equipment

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of controls engineering, automation, machine controls, or related industrial equipment experience.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with HMI development, machine software support, and electrical controls troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical documentation.
• Experience supporting industrial machinery, automation systems, machine tools, or custom equipment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, troubleshoot, and support PLC and HMI programs for advanced industrial machinery.
• Support controls engineering activities for custom machine builds, retrofits, upgrades, and customer-specific projects.
• Troubleshoot electrical, software, automation, and machine-control issues during build, startup, commissioning, and service.
• Work with PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, motion systems, safety circuits, and industrial communication networks.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, controls drawings, machine layouts, and technical documentation.
• Support machine startup, debug, validation, customer acceptance, and field commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, electrical design, service, production, and international technical teams.
• Provide technical support for customers, internal service teams, and production personnel.
• Assist with controls standards, documentation, process improvements, and troubleshooting best practices.
• Maintain a strong focus on machine safety, quality, reliability, and long-term equipment performance.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Electrical controls troubleshooting

Schematic reading

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Siemens PLCs

TIA Portal

Profinet

Job description

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in Farmington Hills, MI to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. You will design, program, troubleshoot, startup, and optimize advanced industrial machinery with PLCs, HMIs, and safety systems, collaborating across mechanical, electrical, and software teams.

The role emphasizes experience with Siemens automation platforms, field service, and international collaboration, supporting European OEM equipment