Controls & Automation Engineer

We are seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to join our manufacturing facility in Lugoff, South Carolina. This is a full-time, on-site role offering a salary range of $85,000 to $95,000.

This position offers a unique chance to shape our facility's automation strategy through direct, hands‑on involvement. You will be tasked with enhancing the reliability of our current production machinery while spearheading upgrades and new automation initiatives designed to boost safety, quality, and output. Your work will span the entire industrial automation landscape, including robotics, PLCs, HMIs, machine vision, sensors, and safety systems.

We are looking for a proactive engineer who thrives on the plant floor, enjoys complex troubleshooting, and takes pride in managing projects from concept to final production.

We are seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to join our manufacturing facility in Lugoff, South Carolina. This is a full-time, on-site role offering a salary range of $85,000 to $95,000.

This position offers a unique chance to shape our facility's automation strategy through direct, hands‑on involvement. You will be tasked with enhancing the reliability of our current production machinery while spearheading upgrades and new automation initiatives designed to boost safety, quality, and output. Your work will span the entire industrial automation landscape, including robotics, PLCs, HMIs, machine vision, sensors, and safety systems.

We are looking for a proactive engineer who thrives on the plant floor, enjoys complex troubleshooting, and takes pride in managing projects from concept to final production.

• Diagnose and resolve issues with PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and machine vision hardware.
• Help maintain a stable production environment by identifying and permanently fixing recurring control system failures.
• Modernize outdated or unreliable automation systems to reduce reliance on manual intervention.
• Create and modify programs for PLCs and HMIs.
• Utilize various industrial programming methods, including ladder logic, structured text, and function blocks.
• Design machine sequences, alarm systems, diagnostics, and fault recovery protocols.
• Integrate diverse hardware such as drives, sensors, cameras, robots, and cobots.
• Configure inspection criteria, lighting, and recipes for machine vision systems.
• Program and deploy industrial robots and collaborative robot systems.
• Support critical applications like robotic welding, material handling, and fixture verification to drive operational efficiency.
• Ensure seamless communication between robots, PLCs, and safety systems.
• Enhance workplace safety by conducting risk assessments and implementing robust control measures.
• Develop custom interfaces or scripts to fill gaps where standard software is insufficient.
• Assess equipment to determine if it should be upgraded, redesigned, or replaced.
• Oversee the lifecycle of new automated cells from initial design to final commissioning.
• Assist with the installation, debugging, and launch of new equipment.
• Manage relationships with external system integrators and automation vendors.
• Validate that new equipment meets performance standards under real-world conditions.
• Establish standardized controls for hardware, programming, and documentation to improve team efficiency.
• Maintain comprehensive records, including electrical schematics and system backups.
• Provide training to maintenance and production staff on updated equipment operations.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical, Controls, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial automation or controls.
• Proficiency in programming HMIs and PLCs.
• Practical experience with commissioning…