Controls Engineer

HR Consulting Solutions is a full service HR consulting and executive search firm that has been retained by Premier Candle Corporation to conduct a search for an experienced Controls Engineer to join their engineering and technical team in Hickory, Kentucky.

Premier Candle is a leading manufacturer of scented candles and home fragrance products. Formerly known as Mayfield Consumer Products, the company has undergone significant transformation and investment in recent years following the devastating tornado that impacted the facility and community in 2021. Today, Premier Candle is focused on rebuilding, modernizing operations, investing in people, and creating a culture centered on accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

The organization operates multiple production lines and is actively investing in automation, equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements to support future growth.

Reporting directly to the Quality and Engineering Manager, the Controls Engineer will be responsible for supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing the automated systems that drive production throughout the facility. This newly created position will serve as the primary on‑site resource for automation and controls support, working closely with maintenance, production, engineering, and an external software development partner based in Canada. The Controls Engineer will help implement automation programs and control solutions already developed for Premier’s Canadian operations while ensuring those systems are successfully integrated and maintained within the Kentucky facility.

This role is approximately a 50/50 blend of hands‑on plant floor support and engineering/project work. The ideal candidate will enjoy diagnosing and resolving equipment issues while also participating in automation improvements, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize existing PLC based control systems throughout the manufacturing facility
• Support automation initiatives involving production equipment, robotics, machine vision systems, SCADA platforms, and HMI interfaces
• Work closely with Premier’s third‑party automation software partner to implement proven automation programs and solutions within the Kentucky facility
• Assist with adapting existing automation systems to meet local operational requirements
• Support commissioning, testing, and validation of automation upgrades and control system improvements

• Diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, robotic, pneumatic, and automation related equipment issues
• Perform hands‑on troubleshooting of sensors, motors, drives, communication networks, and control devices
• Collaborate closely with maintenance and production teams to minimize downtime and improve equipment reliability
• Conduct root cause analysis on recurring equipment failures and implement corrective actions
• Support continuous improvement efforts focused on increasing production efficiency and reducing downtime

• Support and troubleshoot Fanuc robotics systems used throughout the facility
• Maintain and optimize machine vision systems used for quality inspection and process verification
• Support Ignition SCADA and Factory Talk HMI platforms
• Modify operator interfaces, alarms, diagnostics, and reporting tools as needed

• Participate in automation and modernization projects throughout the facility
• Assist with integrating equipment, controls, and automation systems transferred from Premier’s Canadian operations
• Coordinate project activities with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders
• Support capital improvement projects involving automation and controls systems

• Maintain accurate documentation of control systems, automation changes, PLC programs, robotic systems, and equipment modifications
• Ensure compliance with company safety standards, engineering standards, and regulatory requirements
• Support continuous improvement of automation documentation and best…