Senior Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer – Final Assembly Cell Location: Holland, MI (Installation at Customer Facility in Walker, MI)

Employment Type: Contract

Industry: Industrial Automation / Machine Tool Manufacturing

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to join a build team supporting the development and commissioning of a custom final assembly cell in Holland, MI. This is a hands-on technical role where you will be directly involved in offline programming, system debug, and on-site installation at the customer's facility in Walker, MI. You will work as part of a collaborative engineering team while being self-sufficient in your day-to-day tasks and taking direction from a project lead.

The machine being built consists of Allen-Bradley PLC/HMI, pneumatics, servo gantry and dispense equipment, Keyence vision systems, IR heater control, Fanuc robots, and pallet and tray conveyor systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute offline PLC and robot programs for a custom final assembly cell
• Program and configure Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems using Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View
• Program and troubleshoot Fanuc robotic systems including TCP setup, path programming, and fault recovery
• Integrate and configure Keyence vision systems within the automation cell
• Support servo gantry motion control programming and tuning
• Debug and validate all systems prior to and during installation
• Travel to and support on-site installation and commissioning at the customer facility in Walker, MI
• Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and controls-related issues during build and install phases
• Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and project engineering teams to resolve technical issues
• Participate in daily project meetings and communicate progress and concerns to the project lead
• Maintain accurate documentation throughout the build and commissioning process

Work Schedule

• Standard hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• Expect 45–50 hours/week during build phase
• Ramp up to approximately 60 hours/week during installation

Required Qualifications

• 3–5 years of controls engineering experience in an industrial automation or machine tool environment
• Allen-Bradley PLC/HMI experience(Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000, FactoryTalk View)
• Fanuc Robot experience
• Ability to work independently and be self-sufficient while taking direction from a project lead
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Comfortable working hands-on with PLCs, robotic arms, and automation equipment daily

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Keyence vision system integration
• Servo motion control experience
• Familiarity with pneumatic systems and dispense equipment
• Experience supporting machine builds from offline programming through on-site installation and customer buy-off
• Strong understanding of conveyor systems — pallet and tray configurations