Controls Engineer

Suburban Enterprises•Appleton, WI

About The Position

The Controls Engineer designs, programs, commissions, and supports engineered automation and industrial control solutions at customer facilities. The role provides technical leadership and project oversight throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring systems meet customer requirements, applicable standards, project schedules, budgets, and technical specifications. The engineer collaborates with customers, project managers, technicians, electricians, and other engineering personnel to deliver reliable, safe, and maintainable automation solutions. The position also involves estimating and planning projects, preparing scopes of work and proposals, developing electrical schematics and panel layouts, programming and troubleshooting industrial automation systems, providing technical support, and leading multiple concurrent projects through on-time, in-scope, and on-budget delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a relevant field, including electrical engineering and/or electrical engineering technology, or equivalent education and/or experience.
At least 3 years of hands-on experience in industrial electrical, controls, automation, instrumentation, or electromechanical systems.
Extensive experience troubleshooting industrial control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, and motor controls.
Experience programming and troubleshooting Rockwell PLCs and HMIs.
Experience reading, interpreting, and modifying electrical control schematics and control panel layouts using AutoCAD and/or AutoCAD Electrical.
Proficiency with standard computer applications, including Microsoft Office, email, internet browsers, and basic file management.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing project estimates, scopes of work, and budgetary proposals.
In-depth knowledge of industrial electrical and safety standards, including NFPA 79, NEC, and UL 508A panel design guidelines.
Experience programming advanced SCADA/HMI systems such as Ignition, FactoryTalk SE, or Wonderware.
Experience using Microsoft SQL Server for data logging, recipes, or reporting.
Understanding of industrial networking, including Ethernet and Serial.
Experience integrating industrial robots or programming alternative PLC/HMI platforms such as Siemens.
Direct engineering experience in the food, beverage, or paper industries.

Responsibilities

Develop estimates, scopes of work, and proposals for customer automation projects.
Create electrical schematics, panel layouts, and Bills of Materials using AutoCAD Electrical.
Program, test, commission, and troubleshoot industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and AC/DC drives.
Ensure designs and panel builds comply with applicable electrical and safety standards, including NFPA 79, NEC, and ISO 13849.
Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to department technicians and external customers.
Lead multiple concurrent automation projects and ensure delivery on time, within scope, and on budget.
Provide ongoing support for automation and industrial control solutions at customer facilities.