Lead Automation Controls Engineer

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the controls and automation scope for new equipment, major upgrades, and continuous improvement projects, with responsibility across controls, robotics, cobots, and machine vision applications.
• Develop, review, and approve controls hardware concepts, software design approaches, integration plans, and equipment commissioning activities.
• Provide technical leadership for automation system architecture, equipment functionality, and overall system performance.
• Diagnose and resolve complex issues related to controls, robotics, machine vision, safety systems, and equipment reliability.
• Support plant operations by driving improvements in safety, quality, throughput, cost, and operational performance.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering, plant engineering, operations, maintenance, suppliers, integrators, IT, and launch teams to deliver project timing and business objectives.
• Evaluate and help implement emerging automation technologies with a focus on scalability, maintainability, and low-risk launch execution.
• Provide technical direction, coaching, and day-to-day support to less experienced engineers, integrators, and technical resources.
• Help standardize methods, improve technical discipline, and strengthen execution practices across controls, robotics, and vision systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands-on technical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation engineering, robotics engineering, or manufacturing systems integration.
• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems and the ability to apply that knowledge in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming, industrial networking, and controls system troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience integrating or supporting robotics, automated equipment, or advanced manufacturing systems.
• Working knowledge of machine vision, error-proofing, automated inspection, or sensor-based manufacturing applications.
• Experience leading technical workstreams or serving as a senior technical resource on complex automation projects.
• Able to manage multiple technical assignments with a high level of autonomy, urgency, and accountability.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with collaborative robots (cobots), robotic integration, or flexible automation solutions in manufacturing.
• Experience with automation system architecture, controls standards, or common controls solutions.
• Experience supporting equipment buyoff, installation, launch, commissioning, and production startup.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, industrial Ethernet, and related plant-floor communication interfaces.
• Experience with machine vision, vision-guided robotics, automated inspection, or error-proofing systems.
• Experience influencing technical decisions, mentoring others, and driving improvements beyond an immediate assignment area.
• Familiarity with manufacturing safety systems and safe automation design practices.
• Experience working directly with suppliers, system integrators, and cross-functional plant teams.