Electrical Controls Engineer — Industrial Automation

Job Details:

Electrical Controls Engineer — Industrial Automation

Department: Engineering / Controls
Location: Greater Milwaukee Area (On-site)

A growing industrial automation and custom equipment manufacturer is seeking a Controls Project Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced control systems for automated manufacturing equipment. This role offers strong technical ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and the opportunity to work on complex automation projects from concept through commissioning.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in industrial controls, system integration, and project execution within manufacturing or factory automation environments.

Position Overview

The Controls Project Engineer is responsible for the technical execution and performance of control systems within automated equipment projects. This includes electrical design, programming, safety integration, system validation, and commissioning. The role works closely with engineering, manufacturing, project management, vendors, and customers to deliver reliable, high-performance automation solutions.

Projects may include programmable logic controllers, robotics, servo motion systems, industrial networks, vision systems, material handling equipment, and process control technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Controls Engineering & System Design

• Design and develop control systems for custom automated equipment

• Generate electrical schematics, panel layouts, and system architecture

• Perform component specification, power distribution design, and load calculations

• Conduct risk assessments and safety system evaluations

• Support hardware selection, purchasing activities, and system validation

• Develop and test control programs prior to system deployment

Programming & Commissioning

• Program PLC and HMI systems for industrial automation equipment

• Configure distributed I/O, motion systems, drives, and safety controllers

• Perform bench testing, system debugging, and performance validation

• Support equipment startup, field commissioning, and post-installation support

• Implement industrial networking and communication protocols

Project Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead technical execution of controls-related project activities

• Provide guidance and hands-on support to internal and external engineering teams

• Coordinate with vendors, suppliers, and contract engineering resources

• Participate in design reviews, progress meetings, and project planning sessions

• Monitor project milestones, schedules, and technical deliverables

• Mentor technical staff and promote engineering best practices

Continuous Improvement

• Improve controls design standards and programming practices

• Evaluate new technologies and automation solutions

• Support training initiatives for engineering and technical staff

Required Experience

• Minimum 8+ years of controls engineering experience in custom automated equipment or factory automation

• Strong experience designing, building, debugging, and commissioning industrial control systems

• Experience with automated assembly equipment or manufacturing systems preferred

• Proven ability to lead projects and coordinate multiple technical resources

• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers

Technical Qualifications

Control Systems Design

• Electrical controls design including power distribution, panel layouts, safety circuits, and system integration

• Industrial networks (Ethernet, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, CIP Safety, IO-Link or similar)

• Experience with sensors, distributed I/O, motion control, and system interfacing

• Working knowledge of pneumatic systems; hydraulic experience preferred

Programming & Automation

• PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens platforms preferred)

• HMI development and system integration

• Industrial motion systems including servo drives and AC/DC drives

• Industrial safety systems and risk assessment methods

• Robotics integration experience preferred

• SCADA and vision systems experience a plus

Engineering Tools & Software

• Strong controls schematic design using AutoCAD (AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN preferred)

• Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Project, Outlook)

• Experience with structured text, function block, or similar programming formats preferred

• Database or data management experience a plus

Additional Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting ability

• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Experience working with industry standards and safety codes (OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, ISO, IEC, etc.)

• Ability to manage project budgets and technical milestones

• Solid mechanical aptitude

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred

• Equivalent industry experience may be considered

What This Role Offers

• Ownership of complex automation projects from concept to commissioning

• Collaborative engineering environment with advanced automation technologies

• Opportunities to work with robotics, motion control, and smart manufacturing systems

• Leadership and career growth opportunities

To apply, send me your resume to PD@LibertyJobs.com

Patrick DelGaone

PD@LibertyJobs.com