Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer | Automotive Test Equipment & Custom Automated Machinery

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Travel: 10-20% (domestic and internationaL)

Engtal Staffing and Recruiting is partnering with a leading manufacturer of custom machinery and automotive test equipment in the Grand Rapids area to identify an Electrical Engineer. This role is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of electrical control systems for automotive test equipment and custom automated machinery. The successful candidate will work with minimal supervision, independently managing electrical design activities, developing PLC and HMI programs, and supporting machine startup, commissioning, and installation.

This position is a key contributor on new machine designs, system upgrades, and controls improvements throughout the project lifecycle.

• Design and develop complete electrical control systems, schematics, and documentation for new equipment, upgrades, and customer-specific projects
• Create, maintain, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI programs to support machine functionality, performance, and customer requirements
• Develop and maintain project bills of material (BOMs), electrical print packages, and supporting technical documentation
• Collaborate with customers, project managers, and cross-functional engineering teams to define system requirements and resolve technical issues
• Provide technical support for manufacturing, machine build, installation, startup, and commissioning, both remotely and on-site
• Lead or support machine startup, customer acceptance testing, and installation activities to ensure successful project completion
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior Electrical and Controls Engineers while supporting continuous improvement initiatives
• Support troubleshooting and enhancement efforts for existing equipment, controls systems, and customer-driven upgrades

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, with an emphasis in controls, automation, robotics, or systems design preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in electrical design, industrial automation, machine controls, or a related engineering field
• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming and troubleshooting, preferably Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms; experience with additional platforms is a plus
• Ability to independently develop electrical schematics, control system designs, BOMs, and complete electrical print packages using AutoCAD, EPLAN, or similar software
• Working knowledge of industrial automation systems, including VFDs, industrial networking, pneumatic systems, and hydraulic controls
• Experience supporting machine startup, commissioning, installation, and troubleshooting in manufacturing or customer-facing environments
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and interact effectively with customers and cross-functional teams
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10-20% of the time

• Experience with custom machinery, automotive testing equipment, or industrial automation systems
• Previous experience supporting equipment upgrades, retrofit projects, and controls modernization efforts
• Understanding of robotics integration and motion control systems
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm under pressure and troubleshoot effectively in production or customer environments