Controls Engineer II

Gentherm•Trenton, NJ

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Modine Manufacturing Company – Trenton is seeking a Controls Engineer II to design, develop, implement, troubleshoot, and continuously improve electrical control systems and PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment. The role supports plant operations by developing cost-effective manufacturing solutions, improving equipment reliability, increasing automation capabilities, and ensuring safe and efficient production processes. The engineer will lead and support capital projects, equipment installations, process improvements, troubleshooting, and automation initiatives, working closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Manufacturing Engineering, and other internal teams. The position also involves collaboration with vendors and contractors, supporting production across shifts, and contributing to Lean Manufacturing, 80/20, and Operational Excellence initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
At least two years of manufacturing engineering, automation, controls engineering, or related industrial experience.
Experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment in a production environment.
Working knowledge of industrial electrical systems, machine controls, sensors, drives, HMIs, and industrial networking.
Experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, and technical documentation.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and engineering software tools.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Allen-Bradley experience, including programming Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and variable-frequency drives.
Knowledge of robotics, automated assembly systems, vision systems, and industrial communication networks.
Experience with AutoCAD Electrical, Solid Edge, or similar CAD platforms.
Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience supporting capital equipment procurement, installation, and commissioning.
Manufacturing experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or industrial production environments.
Strong programming and automation-development experience.

Responsibilities

Analyze existing processes, equipment, and installations to develop cost-effective manufacturing methods.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and improve PLC-controlled equipment and automated manufacturing systems.
Design, modify, and optimize machine control programs, automation systems, and electrical controls to improve performance, quality, and productivity.
Evaluate manufacturing problems and develop practical solutions to eliminate recurring issues and reduce downtime.
Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead and support capital projects from concept through implementation.
Investigate manufacturing solutions and develop project justifications, cost analyses, and return-on-investment calculations.
Recommend equipment, controls, and automation solutions to meet manufacturing requirements.
Manage installation, startup, debugging, validation, and commissioning of new and modified equipment.
Coordinate equipment transfers and installations, including process qualification and production release.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external contractors throughout project execution.
Provide technical support to production operations across all shifts for complex equipment and process issues.
Help Maintenance and Operations diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, automation, and machine failures.
Develop corrective actions for recurring equipment issues and support root-cause investigations.
Create and maintain equipment and control-system documentation, standards, schematics, and operating procedures.
Participate in safety reviews, risk assessments, machine-guarding evaluations, and ergonomic assessments.
Ensure equipment and control systems meet applicable Modine, customer, and regulatory requirements.
Support process validation, qualification, and production-readiness reviews before equipment release.
Assist with quality investigations and implement automated error-proofing solutions where applicable.
Collaborate with engineering, production, maintenance, quality, and corporate teams, and interface with suppliers, integrators, contractors, and service providers.
Develop specifications, requisitions, and documentation for vendors and internal fabrication resources.
Train operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel on new equipment and control systems.
Evaluate emerging automation technologies, control systems, and manufacturing equipment.
Identify and implement cost savings, reliability improvements, and productivity enhancements.
Lead initiatives to reduce downtime, increase overall equipment effectiveness, improve quality, and enhance process capability.
Support facility Lean Manufacturing, 80/20, and Operational Excellence initiatives.