Controls Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing

Automation Controls Engineer Job Description

The Automation Controls Engineer will define, deploy, and govern standardized control system architectures across robotic and automated manufacturing environments, focusing on robotic/vision/AGV/AMR integration, Ignition-based SCADA systems, and PLC standardization.

• Participates and collaborates with project teams to develop and implement end‑to‑end solutions for automation on plant and assembly line levels.
• Define and implement PLC, HMI, SCADA, and robotic control standard architectures for enterprise deployment.
• Develop and maintain PLC programming standards, reusable function blocks, AOIs, templates, and naming conventions.
• Establish standardized Ignition SCADA and Vision System frameworks including tag models, UDTs, alarming, historization, security, and visualization standards.
• Maintain version control, change management, and backup strategies for control system software.
• Integrate industrial robots and AGVs/AMRs including motion coordination, safety, and peripheral integration.
• Define standard approaches for robot–PLC communication, cell control, error handling, and recovery.
• Identify and develop high‑impact automation use cases that deliver competitive advantage.
• Lead technical scope definition, integrated solution design, risk identification and mitigation, and support development of the business case.
• Support automation/vision system design reviews, risk assessments, FAT/SAT, and onsite commissioning.
• Provide comprehensive project management support, including schedule management, budget oversight, and stakeholder communication.
• Prepare detailed project status reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing key information and trends, proactively identifying risks and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to define system requirements, develop specifications, design small to large‑scale automation concepts, execute proof‑of‑concepts to reduce technical risk, select external partners, support RFQ processes, lead implementation, and ensure long‑term sustainability and maintainability across plant operations.

• Controls focal and technical knowledge in Rockwell hardware/software products, Inductive Automation Ignition, Fanuc robotics hardware/software, Cognex/Keyence hardware/software, AGVs, AMRs, ASRS, motion control, and conveyors.
• Strong understanding of RIA safety standards, IoT, networking, and system integration.

• Design, development, and implementation of technical solutions to new or highly complex problems that cannot be solved using existing methods.
• Forward‑looking approach when analyzing and implementing technical solutions.
• Strong system‑level troubleshooting skills.
• Continuous improvement and standardization mindset.
• Technical leadership/architectural ownership and accountability.

• Effective team contributor; provides appropriate feedback and helps motivate team members to work toward common goals.
• Ability to recognize and respond proactively to project challenges and draw upon appropriate resources from other functional areas as needed to mitigate risk.

• Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills when engaging with customers, suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to prepare and deliver engineering presentations to a variety of audiences.

• Actively engages in problem solving and creative thinking processes.
• Inherent responsibility to train and mentor peers when appropriate.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering – Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related technical field.
• 5+ years experience in packaging, food, pharmaceutical, or high‑speed manufacturing environments.
• 5+ years of experience/knowledge working in Automation, Robotics, AGVs/AMRs, IoT, industrial networks (Ether Net/IP, Profinet, OPC UA), MES integration, data historians, machine learning, and AI.
• RIA robotic safety training, Fanuc education certification, Ignition certification (Core/Gold), Rockwell certification (Logix Programmer, Power Flex Drives, Motion Control Kinetix, etc.).
• Keyence/Cognex experience is a…