Senior Automation Engineer

Location

3001 ORCHARD VISTA DR SE, STE 300, Grand Rapids, MI , United States

Full Time Exempt

10% travel

The Senior Automation Engineer plays a critical role in connecting customer requirements with internal teams to ensure the successful design, development, and delivery of control software solutions for TGW. This position involves setting the product vision, managing product backlogs, and working closely with both internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure that products align with customer expectations and industry standards. The Senior Automation Engineer leads development stages, collaborates with development teams, and performs rigorous testing to ensure the functionality and quality of the final product.

• Develop a clear product vision that aligns with customer requirements and TGW business objectives.
• Manage product backlogs, prioritizing tasks based on project needs and customer feedback.
• Serve as a point of contact for cross‑functional teams, acting as the primary liaison between customer, development, and engineering teams.
• Collaborate on software requirements, technical specifications, and user stories with stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity.
• Lead internal showcases and presentations to review progress with stakeholders.
• Conduct and approve testing, including regression tests, to validate software quality and ensure it meets specifications.
• Maintain a forward‑looking perspective on the latest technologies to integrate advancements and ensure product competitiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent work experience.

Seven (7) to ten (10) years of experience in automation, controls engineering, or similar field, ideally within material‑handling industry.

10% travel, as required.

• Strong proficiency in Human Machine Interface (HMI) development (Ignition) and PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley and Siemens).
• Thorough knowledge of industrial control systems, automation technologies, and control theory.
• Exceptional communication skills for translating complex technical requirements to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively in alignment with business goals and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Preferred:
  Background in Agile or Scrum methodologies, experience managing product backlogs and defining acceptance criteria, familiarity with robotics, vision systems, and motion control.

• Ability to remain stationary at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to go to site frequently and move safely around industrial and/or warehouse environment.
• Ability to lift and carry supplies up to 25 pounds at a time.
• Ability to operate computers, tablets, phones, and other electronic devices.
• Ability to communicate with others verbally and in writing, on a frequent basis.
• Ability to tolerate exposure to job site temperature fluctuations due to seasonal weather in geographic region.

This position may require work at TGW customer sites. TGW’s customers may require background checks before accessing their sites. Refusal to participate in a customer‑required background check may result in a customer barring access and a subsequent reduction in work.

TGW Systems Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.