Senior Controls Engineer: Precision Automation & Startup

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 the Farmington Hills area to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. You will design, program, troubleshoot, start up, and optimize advanced industrial machinery in a cross-functional setting.

The role emphasizes PLC/HMI programming, electrical controls, and hands-on commissioning, with potential exposure to European/German-engineered equipment and Siemens platforms across global projects.

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.

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 troubleshooting

Reading schematics

Cross-functional teamwork

Safety-minded

Strong communication

Tools

Siemens PLCs

Siemens HMIs

Siemens drives

TIA Portal

Profinet/Ethernet/IP

Job description

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in the Farmington Hills area to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. You will design, program, troubleshoot, start up, and optimize advanced industrial machinery in a cross-functional setting.

The role emphasizes PLC/HMI programming, electrical controls, and hands-on commissioning, with potential exposure to European/German-engineered equipment and Siemens platforms across global projects.