Senior Controls Engineer

Position Overview

J+H Automation Solutions is a full-service engineering company that specializes in industrial machine and control system design, build, and support, as well as custom material handling fabrication and installation services.

As Senior Controls Engineer in our Controls Group, you'll be responsible for designing, managing, testing, implementing, and completing projects on time, under budget, and exceeding project specifications. You'll work across Project Management, Sales, Receiving, Drafting, Documentation, Purchasing, Production, and Shipping, and you'll directly execute or supervise every controls element of a project: project management, panel design, wiring diagrams, hardware design, vendor, end user, and consultant interaction, PLC/HMI programming, testing, and onsite support.

You'll lead controls through every phase

1. Architecture & estimate
2. Panel design
3. Panel build
4. Programming
5. FAT
6. SAT & startup

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Project & Team Leadership

• Manage multiple large projects, coordinating projects and resources to meet expected quality, schedule, and budget
• Direct and supervise teams
• Review project requirements and scheduling with customers
• Work with customers and project managers to identify and budget project scope changes
• Serve as a technical resource for others, providing insight and guidance for solving problems
• Provide technical direction, training, and mentoring of engineering and field personnel

Sales Support & Architecture

• Work with Sales to develop control system architectures, project execution strategy, and validate labor estimates
• Recommend system controls scope of work and support estimating

Design, Procurement & Panel Build

• Oversee design of control panels to perform industrial controls functions per the customer's specifications in the bid proposal, including complete panel layout and wiring diagrams in AutoCAD
• Procure components and materials
• Work with the engineering design group on design reviews and controls hardware specifications
• Coordinate with the Panel Production Group on fabrication and assembly of control panels

Programming, Testing & Startup

• Develop PLC and HMI programs and configure other control system components
• Develop procedures and plans for factory and field testing of control systems
• Develop and maintain project execution task lists across design, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT)
• Complete testing, debug, and startup of system installations to the satisfaction of the customer
• Help implement robust quality assurance and control processes that verify system integrity and identify potential failure modes before deployment

Field Installation & Subcontractors

• Provide technical management of subcontractors on the controls aspects of a project: drafting, programming, electrical installation, and commissioning
• Assist engineering, assembly, and installation crews with field device and sensor locations to achieve the desired functional operation
• Review electrical installation of control systems with field electricians
• Supervise field installation of control systems per the drawings

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Write technical documents: functional descriptions, operating manuals, testing procedures, training plans, sequences of operation, and standard operating procedures
• Expand current program templates and develop new ones that make customer troubleshooting and cross support among team programmers easier, then finalize proven templates into work processes
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies and the latest advancements in the field
• Apply creative problem-solving and collaborate with a cross-functional team to develop automation that solves complex customer problems
• Other duties as assigned

Location & Travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a related field

Experience, Skills & Abilities

• Expertise in designing, deploying, and supporting industrial control systems
• In-depth knowledge of industrial automation frameworks, methodologies, and best practices
• Proven analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Leadership skills for mentoring, training, and developing team members
• Self-motivated, with a proven ability to assume primary responsibility for projects with no supervision
• Ability to work in a team-oriented, multi-disciplinary environment and manage multiple tasks and projects
• Ability to rapidly learn, continuously improve, and apply new innovations in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication with customers, vendors, company employees, and subcontractors
• Proficiency in 2D drafting software such as AutoCAD
• Some experience with 3D modeling software such as SolidWorks
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word
• Ability to travel on site to customer facilities

Preferred platforms

• PLC and HMI programming, Rockwell Automation
• Robot programming, Fanuc, Yaskawa, and/or ABB
• Vision programming, Keyence
• Inductive Automation's Ignition

Physical Requirements

Occasionally = up to 33% of the time. Frequently = 33–66%. Constantly = more than 66%.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

• Competitive base salary
• Project performance bonus of up to 10% of base salary
• Additional hourly pay, at the company's discretion, for approved working hours over 80 in a bi-weekly pay period
• Travel bonus once you meet a minimum of 10% travel in a six-month period; the calculation varies by position

Benefits