Controls Engineer

Standard Motor Products, Inc.•New York, NY

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Standard Motor Products Inc., our multidisciplinary staff distinguishes us as much as the world-class parts we manufacture and distribute. Demonstrating a rare commitment to quality, a genuine passion for the auto market, and a commitment to teamwork, it’s our people who support the products in our Vehicle Control Division that help make our lines such winners. Join the 5,000 employees found throughout our Long Island City, NY headquarters, and in 20 factories and distribution centers throughout the country…and world. Controls Engineer – Software Development Long Island City, NY Position Overview: We are looking for a Controls Engineer with strong Python software development skills to design, build, and maintain automated test and control systems. This role sits at the intersection of hardware and software — you will write production-quality Python applications that orchestrate real instruments, acquire data, and validate product behavior in manufacturing and lab environments. A core part of this role is leading our transition away from LabVIEW toward a modern, Python-first test development practice augmented by AI coding tools like Claude Code and Codex.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
Minimum of 5 years of experience in controls or software engineering, preferably in automotive applications
Experience coding in Python and LabVIEW
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with automotive sensor products, such as battery current sensors, steering angle sensors, and throttle position sensors. Able to interpret datasheets, understand signal characteristics, and develop meaningful test coverage
Experience with schematic and PCB layout design tools such as OrCAD and/or Altium is a plus

Responsibilities

Design and develop Python-based automated test executive (ATE) applications for production and validation environments
Build and maintain instrument driver libraries for VISA, GPIB, TCP/IP, Modbus, NI-DAQmx, and CAN/LIN interfaces
Architect data acquisition pipelines: signal conditioning, timestamped logging, and structured reporting
Write operator-facing GUI applications using frameworks such as PySide6 or similar
Lead LabVIEW-to-Python migration efforts: audit existing VIs, define equivalent Python architecture, and execute phased rewrites
Evaluate and integrate AI-assisted development tools (e.g., AI models for code reviews and unit test development) into the test software workflow; document productivity and quality gains to support internal business cases
Establish Python development standards, project templates, and onboarding guides for the controls team
Author and maintain design specs, and developer manuals for software assets
Manage code in Git with feature branches, code review, and CI pipelines
Partner with firmware, mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to define test requirements and ensure production-ready test station deployment.
Deploy and maintain test station software on production floor hardware