Sr Automation / Controls Engineer (S.O) -- Automotive Manufacturing
11 days ago
Elmira
Job Description Job Description Position Title & Basic Details Were looking for several Automation / Controls Engineers (Automotive Manufacturing) based in Elmira, NY. These are contract / consulting positions requiring 5+ years of relevant experience in industrial automation or automotive manufacturing environments. A Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field is strongly preferred. Overview In this role, you will support our Automation / Controls Team responsible for the design, build, programming, commissioning, and long-term support of highly automated production equipment and manufacturing lines. This role spans the full lifecycle of equipment development and support, including: • Electrical system design and drafting, • PLC and HMI programming, • Robotics, vision, and safety systems, • Develop complete electrical design packages for automated equipment, including:, • Electrical schematics, • Panel layouts, • Wiring diagrams, • I/O schematics, • Power distribution drawings, • Perform electrical design using:, • EPLAN, • AutoCAD Electrical, • AutoCAD, • Generate and maintain:, • I/O lists, • Cable schedules, • Device lists, • Bills of Material (BOMs), • Panel layouts, • Redlines, • Ensure designs follow applicable standards:, • NFPA 79 (Industrial Machinery), • NEC (NFPA 70), • UL508A concepts, • Collaborate closely with mechanical, manufacturing, and process engineering teams during equipment design and build phases.Controls Programming & Integration, • Develop and support control programs for automated automotive equipment using:, • Siemens PLCs (TIA Portal / Step 7), • Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix / GuardLogix), • Develop and maintain:, • PLC logic, • Machine sequencing, • Interlocks, • Alarms and fault handling, • HMI interfaces, • Support commissioning of:, • New production equipment, • New manufacturing lines, • Line expansions and retrofitsRobotics Integration, • Support integration and troubleshooting of:, • FANUC robots, • Work with:, • Robot I/O mapping, • Safety coordination, • PLC/robot interlocks, • Sequence synchronization between robots and equipmentMachine Vision Systems, • Support implementation and troubleshooting of vision systems used for:, • Part presence / absence detection, • Alignment verification, • Dimensional checks, • Defect detection, • Barcode / DataMatrix reading, • Traceability systems, • Experience with:, • Keyence vision systems, • Cognex vision systems, • Integrate vision system results into PLC logic for real-time production decisions.Safety Engineering, • Design and implement machine safety systems including:, • Safety PLC logic, • E-Stops, • Light curtains, • Safety door circuits, • Interlocks, • Safety relays and devices, • Participate in:, • Risk assessments, • Safety reviews, • Validation testing, • Apply industry safety practices and standards including:, • NFPA 79, • ISO 13849 concepts, • OSHA requirementsTroubleshooting & Production Support, • Troubleshoot complex issues involving:, • Electrical systems, • PLC logic, • Safety circuits, • Robotics, • Vision systems, • Perform root cause analysis (RCA) and implement permanent corrective actions., • Provide floor-level engineering support during:, • Equipment startup, • Production ramp-up, • Downtime events, • Support equipment uptime, throughput, and long-term reliability.Requirements, • Education: Bachelors degree in Engineering (Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics) or equivalent practical experience., • Experience: Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in industrial automation or automotive manufacturing environments., • Technical Expertise:, • Electrical design and drafting (EPLAN and/or AutoCAD Electrical), • PLC programming (Siemens and/or Allen-Bradley), • Ability to read and troubleshoot electrical schematics, • Experience supporting equipment involving PLC, HMI, robotics, and vision systems, • Soft Skills:, • Strong troubleshooting and analytical thinking, • Ability to communicate effectively with engineering, maintenance, manufacturing, and leadership teams, • Comfortable working onsite in a production environmentPreferred Qualifications, • Automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier experience, • Experience commissioning new automotive production lines, • Experience with:, • Siemens Safety PLCs, • Allen-Bradley GuardLogix, • FANUC robotics integration experience, • Cognex and/or Keyence vision experience, • Experience in high-speed automated assembly environments, • Experience supporting 24/7 production operationsWhy Join Us?, • Challenging Work: Support complex, high-visibility manufacturing systems, • Technical Depth: Work across electrical design, PLCs, robotics, vision, and safety, • Real Impact: Your work directly affects uptime, throughput, and production quality, • Strong Engineering Culture: Join a team that values hands-on technical excellence, • Career Growth: Exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies and environmentsInterview Process, • Initial screening with Controls & Automation Consultants, • Technical interview with engineering leadership