Manufacturing Automation & Controls Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Automation & Controls Engineer

Location: Watertown, CT

Salary: $90-100K DOE plus 5% Bonus and Excellent Benefits

The Controls & Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for providing a combination of manufacturing engineering and electrical controls engineering support for new production equipment and manufacturing operations. This role ensures world-class products are delivered through continuous improvement of equipment, processes, and production systems.

The ideal candidate will work independently with minimal supervision, utilizing strong technical expertise, project management skills, and organizational abilities. This position serves as a technical specialist, collaborating across all levels of the organization to improve efficiency, troubleshoot programming and mechanical issues, reduce equipment downtime, and enhance manufacturing performance.

• Assist new product development teams in determining equipment requirements and cost estimates for machinery built internally or by external suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with established machine specifications for new equipment acquisitions and retrofit projects.
• Design, develop, test, source, justify, and install tooling, fixtures, machinery, equipment modifications, and production devices to improve safety, throughput, quality, capacity, and reliability.
• Manage projects from concept through evaluation, justification, procurement, implementation, and validation.
• Lead engineering projects by creating project timelines, designing control systems, developing schematics, ordering components, programming equipment, debugging systems, and providing post-launch support.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
• Design, develop, debug, and validate control systems including electrical, PLC, hydraulic, pneumatic, servo, and HMI systems.
• Integrate vision inspection systems, process monitoring tools, servo controls, mechanical inspection devices, and other technologies into new and existing equipment.
• Generate and implement standards and best practices for machine design, programming logic, and manufacturing processes.
• Maintain complete and current documentation for control systems and machine programming.
• Review and optimize existing control logic to improve safety, efficiency, and error-proofing.
• Support a diverse portfolio of manufacturing processes and controls hardware.

• Champion innovative manufacturing techniques and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles, Toyota Production System concepts, FMEA methodologies, and Control Plan practices to engineering projects.
• Lead and coordinate continuous improvement projects focused on safety, productivity, quality, reliability, capacity, and process optimization.
• Work closely with Operators, Supervisors, Maintenance, and Quality teams to troubleshoot equipment issues and improve manufacturing processes.
• Ensure manufacturing practices remain current, consistent, and compliant with company policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Provide oversight and direction to external contractors, including electrical, mechanical, and controls programming specialists.
• Ensure proper training and technical guidance are provided to production personnel.
• Partner with Safety teams to ensure equipment, controls, and processes meet ergonomic and workplace safety standards.
• Demonstrate a leadership mindset by holding self and team members accountable for high standards and successful project execution.
• Foster collaboration and effective communication across departments and functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Minimum of three years of manufacturing engineering, electrical controls engineering, industrial engineering, or related experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, quality, safety, and project management…