Position summary
controls engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership in the integration, and maintenance of industrial automation, robotics, and control systems within an automotive manufacturing environment. This role leads plc, robotics, and safety system architecture to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production operations.
key responsibilities
lead the design, programming, commissioning, and support of plc-based control systems for automotive manufacturing lines.
develop and maintain control logic using siemens (tia portal, step 7) and rockwell / allen-bradley (studio *, controllogix, compactlogix).
provide technical leadership for robot cell integration using fanuc and abb robots.
architect and validate plc and robotic safety systems including robot dcs, safety plcs, e-stops, light curtains, scanners, and guarding.
verify compliance with osha, ansi, iso, nfpa, and automotive oem safety standards.
mentor and guide controls engineers and technicians, conducting code and design reviews.
define and enforce controls, robotics, and safety standards across the plant.
lead commissioning, fat, sat, launches, and plant startups.
perform root cause analysis and resolve complex automation and production issues.
collaborate with manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, quality, and it teams.
manage controls scope and technical deliverables for capital and continuous improvement projects.
serve as the technical point of contact for system integrators, oems, and equipment vendors.
support plant-level leadership with automation strategy and long-term roadmap planning.
technical skills & expertise
plc & automation:
siemens plcs: tia portal, step 7, wincc
rockwell / allen-bradley: studio *, rslogix, controllogix, compactlogix
industrial networks: ethernet/ip, profinet, profibus
motion control, vfds, servos, instrumentation
robotics:
fanuc robots: programming, setup, dcs configuration
abb robots: rapid programming, safemove, cell integration
plc–robot communication and handshaking
safety systems:
plc safety (guardlogix, siemens safety integrated)
robot dcs and robotic cell safety architecture
risk assessments and safety validation
certifications
robot dcs certification (fanuc or equivalent)
plc safety certification (tüv, siemens safety, rockwell safety)
industrial robotics certification (fanuc / abb preferred)
electrical / automation safety training
education & experience
bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, automation, or related field
5+ years of experience in controls, robotics, or automotive manufacturing
automotive production line and robotics integration experience strongly preferred
leadership & soft skills
strong technical leadership and mentoring ability
excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills
effective communication across engineering and plant teams
ability to lead under production-critical and launch environments