Entry Level Controls Engineer

About the role

The Automation Technician maintains, troubleshoots, validates, and supports laboratory automation systems to ensure efficient, reliable, and compliant laboratory operations. This role serves as the primary first-line automation support resource and collaborates closely with laboratory operations, quality, engineering, and external vendors to keep critical equipment running smoothly and to drive continuous improvement across multiple laboratory sites.

Job Type & Location: Contract to Hire position based out of Mebane, NC. Workplace Type: Fully onsite in Mebane, NC.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, calibration, and operational checks on laboratory automation systems to ensure reliable performance.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, software, instrumentation, and process issues to minimize downtime and maintain consistent laboratory operations.
• Support the installation, setup, qualification, and validation of new automation platforms, equipment upgrades, and associated control systems.
• Assist with technical investigations, root cause analyses, deviation reviews, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions related to automation systems.
• Maintain and support automated liquid handling systems, robotic platforms, thermal control devices, and a wide range of laboratory instrumentation.
• Configure automation software, execute methods, perform system backups, and support approved programming modifications to meet operational needs.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation for maintenance, calibration, validation, and change control activities in accordance with internal procedures.
• Coordinate with Quality, Engineering, Operations, and external vendors to support equipment reliability, performance, and timely issue resolution.
• Monitor automation system performance, identify trends, and recommend continuous improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and data integrity requirements in all automation-related activities.
• Stay current with evolving laboratory automation technologies, tools, and best practices and apply them to improve existing systems.
• Support the standardization, deployment, and optimization of automation solutions across multiple laboratory sites.

Skills

• Minimum 3 years of experience supporting an automation environment.
• Proven experience maintaining and troubleshooting automated equipment in a laboratory or production setting.
• Hands-on experience with automation systems, including robotics, automated liquid handling systems, and laboratory instrumentation.
• Automation and PLC programming experience, including diagnostics and troubleshooting.
• Experience with PLC and controls diagnostics, including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and HMI interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot electro-mechanical systems such as motors, sensors, gearboxes, and pneumatics.
• Experience in troubleshooting and maintaining conveyor systems and filler machines.
• Strong in preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and root cause analysis.
• Robotics troubleshooting and maintenance experience in an automation environment.
• Electrical troubleshooting skills related to automation and control systems.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities to resolve complex automation issues.
• Excellent documentation practices for maintenance, calibration, validation, and change control activities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Effective cross-functional communication skills to collaborate with operations, quality, engineering, and vendors.
• Ability to work independently while actively supporting larger cross-functional