Manufacturing Controls Engineer
Our Next Energy · Novi, MI
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Job description
ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Automation & Controls Development
- Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC-based control systems for automated manufacturing equipment.
- Develop and maintain control logic using platforms such as Rockwell (Allen Bradley), Siemens, or similar PLC systems .
- Configure HMI / SCADA systems for machine monitoring, diagnostics, and operator interface.
- Develop and maintain automated production data collection, reporting, and diagnostic tools to support manufacturing performance.
- Support manufacturing execution systems (MES), production traceability, and automation interfaces between PLCs and enterprise systems.
- Integrate, troubleshoot, and optimize robotics, vision systems, and automated material handling equipment for high-volume production environments. Equipment Integration & Commissioning
- Lead controls design, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment.
- Collaborate with equipment vendors and integrators during factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).
- Develop controls standards and documentation for plant automation systems. Manufacturing Support
- Provide technical troubleshooting support for production equipment downtime related to controls, sensors, drives, vision, PLC, robotics, and automation.
- Work closely with maintenance and production teams to diagnose, resolve, and improve automation system performance.
- Optimize control strategies to improve cycle time, reliability, and equipment uptime . Safety & Compliance
- Design and validate machine safety systems including safety PLCs, interlocks, emergency stops, and safeguarding systems.
- Ensure equipment complies with OSHA, NFPA, and relevant machine safety standards .
- Support high-voltage and lithium-ion manufacturing safety requirements . Process Optimization
- Analyze equipment performance data to identify automation improvements and efficiency gains .
- Implement process automation improvements to increase throughput and reduce scrap.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and plant automation roadmaps .
- Lead root cause investigations for automation-related production issues and implement sustainable corrective actions. Documentation & Standards
- Support, maintain, and enforce plant automation standards including programming architecture, documentation, naming conventions, and commissioning procedures
- Maintain detailed documentation including:
- PLC/HMI code change management revisions
- Open issues management
- Automation standardization
- Electrical schematics redlines QUALIFICATIONS: Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering , Software Engineering, Mechatronics, or Automation Engineering Experience
- 5+ years of controls engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting automated production lines or industrial equipment
- Experience with PLC programming, Robotics, and industrial automation systems Technical Skills:
- PLC programming
- Allen Bradley (Studio 5000 / RSLogix)
- Siemens (TIA Portal)
- HMI/SCADA systems
- Industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, IO-link, Modbus, OPC)
- Servo systems and VFD drives
- Robotics integration (Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, or similar)
- Machine vision systems (Keyence, Cognex)
- Electrical schematics and panel design
- Industrial sensors and instrumentation Preferred Experience
- EV battery, Automotive, Lithium-ion, Semiconductor, or High-tech manufacturing
- Dry-room or clean-room manufacturing environments
- High-speed automated production lines
- Safety PLCs and machine safety standards (ISO 13849 / NFPA)
- Automation troubleshooting and problem solving
- Systems integration and commissioning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Strong technical documentation skills
- Ability to support a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Equal Opportunity
Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.