Engineer, Controls - Seats

Slate Auto•Warsaw, IN

About The Position

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We are seeking a seasoned Controls & Automation Engineer with deep automotive manufacturing experience to help build and refine world‑class production systems. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in automation, robotics, PLC programming, and equipment integration within General Assembly or related automotive environments. You will play a critical role in designing, optimizing, and sustaining automated systems that drive safety, quality, throughput, and cost performance. Beyond technical mastery, we’re looking for someone who elevates others, solves complex problems with clarity, and helps shape the culture of a new manufacturing organization. This is a rare opportunity to build automation capability from the ground up in a fast‑moving, mission‑driven environment.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
8+ years of controls, automation, or mechatronics engineering experience in the automotive or high‑volume manufacturing industry.
Proven success supporting General Assembly automation, including equipment launch, commissioning, and process optimization.
Expert knowledge of PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, or similar), HMI development, and industrial communication protocols.
Strong understanding of robotics (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA), motion control, and machine vision systems.
Proficiency in electrical troubleshooting, safety system design, and root‑cause analysis methodologies.
Strong communication, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
Demonstrated ability to deliver sustainable improvements in uptime, quality, and cost.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering documentation tools (e.g., VISIO, AutoCAD Electrical).

Nice To Haves

Experience in start‑up or greenfield environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead development, integration, and optimization of automated systems within the Slate Production System (SPS).
Design, program, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, and safety circuits for General Assembly operations.
Drive root‑cause analysis and resolution of automation‑related issues originating from the plant, field, or suppliers.
Support layout development, equipment selection, tooling integration, and material‑flow automation to improve throughput and reliability.
Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives focused on cycle‑time reduction, error‑proofing, uptime improvement, and cost savings.
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to ensure automation strategies align with product and process requirements.
Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by developing automated process flows, control plans, PFMEAs, and workstation logic.
Develop and maintain system documentation, including electrical schematics, software standards, and troubleshooting guides.
Monitor automation KPIs (uptime, MTTR, MTBF, cycle time) and build dashboards and action plans to drive improvement.
Train and mentor technicians, operators, and engineers on automation systems, safety protocols, and best practices.