Sr Controls Engineer

Our Company:

As a leading automation integrator, Acieta designs and delivers custom solutions powered by cutting-edge robotics and advanced technologies, from FANUC and KUKA systems to vision-guided applications, palletizing, and fully integrated cells. With operations across the U.S. and customers worldwide, Acieta combines the agility and collaborative culture of a small company with the resources and expertise to execute large-scale, transformative projects. Join our rapidly growing team and help shape the next era of automation.

Location: Remote

Join Our Team as a Controls Engineer:

We’re seeking a talented Sr Controls Engineer to join our growing service team at Acieta! In this role, you’ll serve as a senior technical resource for customer support, troubleshooting, programming, commissioning, and field service of industrial automation systems. This role requires the ability to make independent technical decisions while maintaining communication with Service Managers and Project Managers. The Sr Controls Engineer will provide remote and on-site support for PLC, HMI, vision, and related control systems. The expectation is that this resource answers the phone M-F during business hours and takes after-hours calls based on a rotational schedule (typically one week per month).

What You Get to Do:

• Direct Customer Support - Answer incoming support calls from customers and provide advanced troubleshooting and problem resolution for industrial automation and controls systems. Work with other departments, customers, and outside vendors/contractors to determine root cause and implement effective corrective actions. Support scheduling of on-site service calls and maintain service documentation in accordance with established customer service procedures and practices.
• Controls Programming and Troubleshooting - Develop, modify, debug, and support PLC, HMI, vision, and related automation software. Diagnose controls issues involving logic, communications, I/O, safety circuits, drives, motion, and interfaces to robotic equipment.
• Field Service and Commissioning - Provide on-site controls support for equipment startup, commissioning, installation, upgrades, retrofits, production support, and emergency service. Perform I/O checkout, functional testing, software changes, system validation, and customer handoff as required.
• Controls Component Support - Assist customers and the Spare Parts team with identification, configuration, compatibility, and replacement of PLCs, HMIs, vision equipment, industrial networking components, drives, safety devices, and other controls hardware.
• System Improvement - Make recommendations to improve reliability, quality, maintainability, and performance of Acieta systems based on field experience, root-cause findings, customer input, and knowledge gained through testing, commissioning, and service support.
• Service Priority and Documentation - Maintain the policy that Acieta-built equipment that is down in production receives the highest priority for service unless instructed otherwise by Acieta management. Maintain clear documentation of service activity, trip reports, technical findings, and software backups so systems can be efficiently restored and supported in the field.
• Engineering Feedback - Provide Engineering, Manufacturing, and Acieta management with technical findings that may support improved designs, standards, programming practices, or new products. Communicate performance, functional, reliability, and product-quality concerns identified through field support.
• Quotation and Proposal Support - Assist with quotation and proposal activity as requested, ensuring accurate representation of controls and automation requirements, technical scope, software requirements, manpower, and realistic execution expectations.
• Controls Tools and Software - Maintain proficiency with the programming, configuration, diagnostic, and documentation software required to support Acieta automation systems and customer equipment.
• Knowledge Transfer and Mentoring - Share newly learned technical information with other engineers and technicians from shop work, field support, vendor training, and customer applications. Provide technical guidance and mentoring to less experienced controls resources as needed.
• Other duties as may be assigned that the employee is trained for and qualified to perform.
• Adhere to company and customer safety policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment.

Education, Experience, Skills, Licenses, and Other Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience. A minimum of five years of industrial controls engineering, programming, commissioning, or field-service experience is required, with demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot complex automated equipment.
• PLC Programming: Demonstrated proficiency programming and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC platforms, including Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000, and Siemens PLC platforms, including TIA Portal.
• HMI Programming: Experience developing, modifying, and troubleshooting HMI applications using FactoryTalk View ME and Siemens WinCC.
• Vision Systems: Experience configuring, programming, integrating, and troubleshooting machine vision systems, including Cognex and Keyence platforms.
• Controls Integration: Strong understanding of industrial control systems, electrical I/O, Ethernet/IP and PROFINET communications, variable-frequency drives, servo systems, and machine safety interfaces.
• Robotics Interface Experience: Familiarity with FANUC or other industrial robot interfaces is preferred; the primary technical focus of this role is controls engineering.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze in English, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, and customers.
• Technical Drawings: Ability to read, interpret, and mark up electrical schematics, panel drawings, I/O drawings, network drawings, and other automation documentation.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Learning New Skills: Ability and desire to learn new controls platforms, software tools, industrial networks, and automation technologies as customer requirements evolve.
• Licenses and Other Requirements:
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and maintain a good driving record.
• Must be at ease working with others of essentially equal or even greater technical expertise and experience of an effective manner.
• Must be able to travel up to 80%.
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid Passport.
• Must be able to make independent, advanced technical decisions while maintaining communication with Project Managers and Service Managers to complete projects and achieve customer satisfaction.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to perform rigorous physical activities required by industrial manufacturing tasks.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $118,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Remote