Controls Engineer

ZF Group•Marshall, IL

11d•$73,700 - $92,000

About The Position

ZF is hiring a Controls Engineer in Marshall, Illinois. The position is part of ZF’s ADAS & HPC business, which is undergoing growth and transformation in advanced automotive technology and is planned for divestiture. The role focuses on equipment reliability, controls, automation, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing. The expected annual base compensation is $73,700 to $92,000, with actual compensation depending on relevant factors. ZF does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration-related support for this role; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship now or in the future. The Controls Engineer analyzes equipment and process data, resolves reliability issues, documents and implements equipment changes, and leads technology development and improvement projects. The role also includes training maintenance and operations personnel, coordinating contractor support, and supporting health, safety, environmental, and quality programs. Employees are expected to promote continuous improvement and a zero-defect culture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field and 2–4 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read mechanical CAD drawings and understand drafting principles.
Ability to read electrical schematics and write program code using Rockwell, Siemens, or other controls platforms.
Strong electrical and controls aptitude, with hands-on capability; Rockwell experience is preferred and Siemens experience is also referenced.
Experience developing and executing designed experiments (DOEs).
Team leadership and project management skills, with the ability to communicate and influence others.
Experience using problem-solving and decision-making tools.
Experience with robot programming, particularly Stäubli or Universal Robotics.
Lean manufacturing mindset and focus on automating processes where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Rockwell controls experience.
Training in Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, with practical experience.
Experience with Poke-Yoke equipment and processes.
Stäubli robot programming experience.

Responsibilities

Acquire and analyze data to define problems and determine the results of changes.
Use Pareto analysis to refine data into actionable plans.
Resolve acute and chronic equipment reliability issues using physics, engineering principles, and technology.
Apply solutions to similar equipment and component applications.
Develop process and equipment documentation, and train maintenance and operations personnel on new processes, materials, and equipment.
Document mechanical, electrical, and controls-related equipment changes.
Lead new technology development, continuous improvement, and benchmarking for cost and reliability.
Focus on automation of new and existing processes while maintaining a lean manufacturing mindset.
Manage controls networking when required.
Complete projects of varying scale to eliminate waste.
Interface with and manage contractor support.
Implement company goals individually and within a team structure.
Train maintenance technicians on technology and the root cause analysis process.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Comply with and support health, safety, and environmental programs, policies, and procedures.
Adhere to and promote ZF’s quality commitment, continuous improvement, and zero-defect culture.