Controls Engineer

About the role

This role focuses on the design, programming, and troubleshooting of industrial automation systems, with a strong emphasis on Allen-Bradley PLC programming. You will collaborate closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure reliable and efficient production. The position offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects for different customers, either on-site at customer facilities in West Michigan or remotely from home, and to contribute to new automation equipment from concept through commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, modify, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLCs, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and MicroLogix platforms.
• Develop, configure, and support HMI applications using FactoryTalk View or similar HMI software.
• Diagnose and resolve controls and electrical issues on manufacturing and automation equipment to minimize downtime and improve reliability.
• Support system startups, commissioning, and debugging activities at customer sites and remotely.
• Create, read, and update electrical schematics to support controls design, troubleshooting, and modifications.
• Integrate and support robotics systems, including Fanuc and ABB robots, within automated production environments.
• Configure, program, and troubleshoot vision systems such as Keyence and Cognex to support inspection and automation tasks.
• Work with VFDs, servo systems, and related motion control components to ensure proper operation and integration with PLCs and HMIs.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to implement continuous improvement and automation projects.
• Provide customer-facing technical support, clearly communicate project status, and represent the company professionally at all times.
• Document programs, configurations, and system changes to ensure maintainability and knowledge transfer for future support.

Skills

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley PLC programming, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and MicroLogix.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve controls and electrical issues.
• Familiarity with robotics systems, including Fanuc and ABB robots, integration.
• Vision systems - Keyence and Cognex.
• Ability to read and work with electrical schematics for troubleshooting and design.
• Experience working with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and a methodical approach to problem solving in industrial environments.
• Positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills for effective customer-facing interactions.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple tasks and priorities.

Nice to have Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working for or with automation integrators or contractors.
• Background in supporting system startups, commissioning, and debugging at customer sites.
• Experience with industrial networking and communication between PLCs, HMIs, robots, and vision systems.
• Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and automation projects in a production environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and customers.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable working in a dynamic, project-based environment.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday
• 40–50 hours per week depending on project demands
• Hybrid schedule: split time between working remotely from home and on-site at customer facilities in West Michigan
• Some travel required to support installation, commissioning, and startup of new equipment at customer sites

Typically working in industrial and manufacturing environments around production equipment, robotics, and automation systems.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/hr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Work Environment

This is a Contract to Hire, hybrid position based out of Nunica, MI. The culture emphasizes flexibility in where and how you complete your work, exposure to new and diverse customer projects, and the opportunity to contribute to a growing organization experiencing strong demand and rapid growth.