Senior Controls Engineer: Precision Automation & Startup

Connect Force

Canton Charter Township (MI)

On-site

USD 115,000 - 125,000

Full time

13 days ago

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Job summary

Connect Force Recruiting is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to design, program, troubleshoot, startup, and optimize advanced industrial machinery. This role requires strong PLC, HMI, and electrical controls expertise and works with cross-functional teams across mechanical, software, service, and customer groups.

Experience with European or German-engineered machinery, Siemens automation platforms, and precision machine tools is highly valued.

Qualifications

Minimum of 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.
Strong hands-on troubleshooting ability in shop-floor, machine build, or field-service environments.
Comfortable working cross-functionally with engineering, service, production, and customer teams.
Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical issues clearly.
Safety-focused, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple technical priorities.

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.