Senior Field Commissioning Engineer – PLCs, Robotics & Automation

Ashton North LLC; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashton North LLC in the Greater Milwaukee area seeks a Senior Field Commissioning Engineer to lead on-site and shop-floor commissioning of custom automation, PLCs, and robotics. You will travel to client sites, perform debugging, and validate systems before customer sign-off.

Candidates bring 5+ years in commissioning, proficiency with Rockwell Studio 5000 and Siemens TIA Portal, and the ability to read electrical prints; occasional international deployments are possible.

Qualifications

• 5+ years field proven experience commissioning and integrating custom automation systems.
• Strong PLC diagnostics including I/O tracing and basic logic modifications (Rockwell/Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal).
• Ability to read and interpret electrical layouts, mechanical drawings, and fluid power schematics.
• Travel 50% to 80% to client sites across North America; willing to travel internationally.
• Must reside within daily commuting distance of Greater Milwaukee; US citizen or permanent resident; valid license.

Responsibilities

• Lead equipment readiness, direct internal commissioning and live-wire debugging before shop floor release.
• Calibrate robotics and multi-axis cells, validate EOAT, and ensure network communications.
• Perform high-level troubleshooting across PLCs, servos, vision, pneumatics, and safety interlocks.
• Onsite deployments, manage run-offs at client sites and train customer personnel.
• Collaborate with design, project management, and shop teams to isolate issues quickly.
• Track testing hours, maintain issue lists, and submit progress logs to stakeholders.

Skills

Field commissioning

PLC diagnostics

Robotics calibration

Electrical troubleshooting

Travel readiness

Education

Associate or Bachelor in Electrical/Mechanical/Robotics Engineering

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

Siemens TIA Portal

Job description

Senior Field Commissioning Engineer – PLCs, Robotics & Automation

Up to $59.00 / Hour Base + Overtime Potential Greater Milwaukee Area, WI First Shift Direct-Hire

• Compensation & Earnings: Up to $59.00/hour starting base rate (commensurate with robotics and controls depth) + overtime earning potential + premium corporate benefits package.
• Work Schedule: First Shift | Blended hybrid model balancing internal shop floor debug at the local facility with field deployments.
• Travel Structure: 50% to 80% field travel (predominantly domestic client sites with occasional international commissioning deployments).
• Work Environment: High-growth, family-owned OEM pioneer with nearly a century of continuous manufacturing excellence; fast-paced, high-trust setting building custom automated assembly, high-speed handling, and robotic cells for Tier-1 global clients with zero corporate bureaucracy.
• Career Depth & Tech Stack: 5+ years of hands-on custom automation commissioning; practical PLC logic troubleshooting/programming (Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal); multi-axis industrial robotics calibration; servo controls; pneumatic architecture; electrical print fluency.
• Requirements & Compliance: Associate (A.S.) or Bachelor’s (B.S.) Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Robotics Engineering preferred (equivalent hands-on experience fully valued); U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder; valid driver’s license and passport readiness; daily commuting access to the Greater Milwaukee area.

If you are an elite field controls or commissioning specialist seeking an organization where your diagnostic intelligence directly drives multi-million dollar capital equipment projects, this fast-growing OEM is your ideal professional home. Backed by nearly a century of continuous manufacturing excellence, this family-owned pioneer combines the high-trust, collaborative feel of a close-knit team with the market power and financial stability of a global leader.

Specializing in custom automated assembly, high-speed material handling, and robotic welding cells for Tier-1 global clients, this firm operates free of rigid corporate bureaucracy. You will own complex automated machinery through its full operational birth—from preliminary plant debug and electrical/mechanical calibration at the Milwaukee-area facility to final customer site run-off and sign-off around the globe.

What You Will Be Doing (Core Responsibilities)

• Lead Equipment Readiness: Direct the internal commissioning, live-wire debug, and I/O validation of custom automated systems before shop floor release.
• Robotic & Cell Calibration: Validate advanced multi-axis robotic platforms from scratch, executing initial electrical/mechanical calibrations, communication network setups, and end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) checks.
• Hands-On Diagnostics: Perform real-time, high-level troubleshooting across complex PLC logic architectures, servo drives, vision systems, pneumatic circuits, and safety interlocks.
• Customer Field Deployments: Lead onsite equipment installations, managing technical run-offs at global client facilities while training customer engineering and maintenance personnel.
• Cross-Functional Interface: Partner directly with mechanical design engineers, project managers, and shop floor build teams to rapidly isolate hardware, software, or mechanical bugs.
• Project Administrative Discipline: Track daily operational testing hours, manage active engineering open-issue lists, and submit detailed field progress logs to project stakeholders.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• 5+ Years Field Proven Experience: Verifiable track record in commissioning, troubleshooting, and integrating custom industrial automated machinery and multi-axis robotics.
• PLC & Controls Diagnostics: Strong diagnostic capabilities in PLC logic troubleshooting, I/O tracing, and basic logic modifications (e.g., Rockwell/Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal).
• Schematic & Print Literacy: Ability to confidently read, interpret, and trace complex electrical layouts, mechanical assembly drawings, and fluid power schematics on the fly.
• Travel Flexibility & Readiness: Complete willingness and ability to travel 50% to 80% to customer production sites across North America and select international destinations.
• Location & Legal Authorization: Must reside within daily commuting distance of the Greater Milwaukee area, hold a valid driver's license, and be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) with valid passport eligibility.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Multi-Brand Robotics Integration: Advanced path teaching, payload configuration, and communication setup for FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or Yaskawa robotic arms.
• Industrial Vision Systems: Practical setup and calibration experience with Cognex, Keyence, or integrated 2D/3D vision platforms.
• Degree Credentials: Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or Automation Technology.