Principal Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation (Onsite)

About the role

Pratt & Whitney is seeking a highly skilled Principal Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation to design, develop, program, deploy, and support advanced automation equipment used in aerospace manufacturing. This is a hands-on engineering role with significant responsibility for taking automation concepts from initial identification and development through commissioning and production deployment.

What You Will Do

• Identify opportunities for automation and develop controls solutions that improve manufacturing capability, quality, safety, throughput, and cost
• Lead the controls portion of new automation projects from concept and system architecture through programming, integration, commissioning, and production deployment; develop and maintain PLC programs, HMI applications, motion-control systems, safety systems, and machine-control architectures
• Program, integrate, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial robots for aerospace manufacturing applications; develop robotic programs, routines, sequencing, tool paths, I/O integration, and robot-to-machine communications
• Integrate robots with PLCs, vision systems, servo/motion systems, tooling, sensors, safety devices, and other automation equipment. Develop machine sequences, state logic, interlocks, fault handling, diagnostics, and operator interfaces
• Commission new automation equipment and troubleshoot systems during development, installation, and production ramp-up; provide technical support for existing automated manufacturing systems, including troubleshooting controls, robotics, electrical, and software issues
• Diagnose and resolve complex equipment problems with a methodical, hands-on approach; improve existing automation systems through controls upgrades, cycle-time improvements, reliability improvements, and capability enhancements
• Develop electrical/control system documentation, software standards, backups, and other technical documentation; work collaboratively with manufacturing engineers to ensure controls solutions effectively support the overall machine and manufacturing process
• Support equipment installation, startup, validation, and acceptance at internal and customer locations as required; establish and maintain programming and controls standards to improve consistency, reliability, and maintainability across automation systems
• Stay current with emerging robotics, controls, and automation technologies and identify opportunities to apply them within aerospace manufacturing; provide technical guidance and support to controls technicians and other engineering personnel
• Travel periodically for equipment installation, commissioning, and customer support

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline
• Demonstrated experience in industrial automation and controls engineering
• Proficiency in industrial robotic programming and integration with demonstrated ability to independently develop and troubleshoot robot applications
• Experience programming and troubleshooting PLC-based control systems
• Experience with industrial robots from one or more major platforms such as FANUC, ABB, or similar
• Understanding of PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, motion control, servo systems, machine safety, sensors, and industrial electrical systems
• Demonstrated experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics and controls documentation
• Experience taking an automation system from concept through development, commissioning, and production deployment
• Experience diagnosing complex hardware and software issues in a manufacturing environment
• Hold a current U.S. government-issued Secret Clearance OR be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued Secret Clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with machine vision, data collection, MES/SCADA, or advanced manufacturing systems
• Experience developing reusable controls software, programming standards, and automation libraries
• Advanced industrial robot programming and offline programming
• PLC programming with platforms such as Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar
• Servo and multi-axis motion control
• Machine vision and robotic vision integration
• Industrial Ethernet and device communications
• Functional machine safety and safety PLCs
• Automated material handling and robotic manufacturing processes
• CNC, machining, assembly, inspection, or other aerospace manufacturing automation
• Controls system architecture and electrical panel design

Pay

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 401(k) match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Flexible work schedules
• Employee assistance program
• Employee Scholar Program
• Parental leave
• Paid time off and holidays

Schedule

This position is classified as Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee's personal responsibility.