Senior Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer – Automotive Manufacturing

Location: Metro Detroit, MI

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Schedule: Monday–Friday

Adecco Permanent Recruitment is partnering with a growing automotive manufacturer to hire a Controls Engineer supporting plant automation, equipment controls and manufacturing systems.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys working close to the production floor and solving real equipment problems. The position will support both existing machinery and new/retooled equipment, with responsibility spanning controls troubleshooting, programming, equipment integration, vendor coordination and production support.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support, troubleshoot and improve automated manufacturing equipment and control systems
• Develop and modify PLC logic for production machinery
• Support electrical controls, HMI systems and machine communication
• Assist with equipment launches, upgrades, rebuilds and retooling projects
• Work closely with maintenance, manufacturing engineering, operations and outside vendors
• Participate in equipment debug, run-off and installation activities
• Identify root causes of controls-related downtime and implement corrective actions
• Support machine safety systems and controls standards
• Assist with technical documentation, equipment specifications and controls requirements
• Provide technical guidance and training to plant personnel as needed

Technical Background We’re Looking For

Candidates should bring strong industrial controls and automation experience, ideally within automotive or another high-volume manufacturing environment.

Preferred experience includes:

• Allen-Bradley / Rockwell PLC programming
• RSLogix 500
• RSLogix 5000
• Siemens PLCs
• FANUC robotics
• RSView Studio
• PanelBuilder 32
• AutoCAD
• Industrial automation
• Electrical controls
• HMI programming
• Machine troubleshooting
• CNC equipment
• Controls integration
• Equipment commissioning
• Machine retooling and rebuilds

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant controls, automation or manufacturing engineering experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or related field preferred
• Strong electrical and mechanical troubleshooting skills
• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment in a plant environment
• Strong communication and problem-solving ability
• Comfortable working both independently and cross-functionally

Ideal Candidate

The strongest fit will be someone who can walk onto a manufacturing floor, diagnose a controls issue, work through PLC/HMI logic, coordinate with vendors or maintenance as needed, and help get equipment back into a stable production state.

Experience with a mix of Rockwell, Siemens, FANUC, CNC machinery and industrial automation would be especially attractive.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to work on a broad range of automation and equipment projects rather than being limited to one narrow controls function. You’ll have direct exposure to equipment improvements, production support, new machinery and retooling work in a fast-paced automotive environment.

Interested in learning more? Please send your resume directly to Joe Dombles at [email protected].

Joe Dombles

Adecco Permanent Recruitment

[email protected]

248.914.4085