Engineering Specialist, Controls

Ford • Sterling Heights, MI

9h • Onsite

About The Position

In this position, you will lead problem solving to assist plants and implementation teams in resolving tooling, equipment, and conveyor performance issues and downtime. Your role will involve developing and implementing improvements to control systems and equipment using Factory Information Systems (FIS) data. You will lead problem solving efforts to resolve equipment performance issues and lead troubleshooting, coordinating resources to find root causes and fixes, and managing problems by breaking them down into validated items. You will also assist in the training of manufacturing personnel and plant electricians, and help integrate controls into IT systems such as FIS, Error Proofing, QWX, and QTS. Key tasks include troubleshooting machinery, robot, automation, and controls issues and downtime, using FIS plant monitoring software to review equipment cycle times, and reviewing and coordinating project installations. The role requires experience interacting with senior management, process engineering, safety, IT, and plant production teams. You should be self-starting, self-directed with strong influential, organizational, and interpersonal skills, and possess a strong manufacturing background with a heavy emphasis on production-related controls experience. Additionally, you will be responsible for reprogramming equipment for engineering changes and improvements, and maintaining program backups for machinery and automation.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• 3 year or more of Controls Engineering experience in manufacturing environment (internship and coop experience will be considered)
• 3 years or more experience with PLC logic, controls, Siemens and Modicon programming
• Direct program experience with assembly and machining controls architectures (hardware/software).
• Knowledge of programming principals on Siemens, Schneider, Bosch PLC along with CNC/Motion controls systems.
• Knowledge and ability to troubleshoot PLC, CNC, robot, and other automation issues.
• Knowledge of cell machining systems and integration of CNC controls, gantries and auxiliary equipment an asset.
• Knowledge of ABB/FANUC robot
• Knowledge of assembly and machining RFID systems including complexity management, and QOS strategies.
• Knowledge of Vision Systems
• Able to read Controls (electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic) prints.
• Ability to work off-shift on 4-crew.
• Experience interacting with senior management, process engineering, safety, IT, and plant production teams.
• Self-starting, self-directed with extremely good influential, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong manufacturing background with heavy emphasis on production related controls experience.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, Mechanical, Controls or Automation Engineering
• Electrical background (electrician or technician) preferred
• Interest in controls engineering with strong aptitude to quickly learn and apply controls knowledge.
• Solid understanding of laser burning
• Knowledge of international electrical/safety standards (UL, ISO, IEC etc) and familiarity with internal/external safety processes (risk assessments, PSS, integrated safety etc).
• Understanding of communication network architectures and field bus protocols.
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience
• Lean Tools – 5S, Kanban, Poka-Yoke, Value Stream Mapping experience
• Understanding of 8D, FMEA, and DMAIC processes
• Familiar with TQM and Kaizen methods
• One or more years of experience with MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)

Responsibilities

• Lead problem solving to assist plants and implementation teams in resolving tooling, equipment and conveyor performance issues and downtime.
• Develop and implement improvements to control systems and equipment using Factory Information Systems (FIS) data.
• Lead problem solving in resolving equipment performance issues.
• Lead trouble shooting; coordinate resources to find root cause and fixes, manage and breakdown problems into items that can be validated.
• Assist in the training of manufacturing personnel and plant electricians.
• Assist in integration of controls into IT systems like Factory Information Systems (FIS), Error Proofing, QWX, and QTS.
• Troubleshoot machinery, robot, automation, and controls issues and downtime.
• Use FIS plant monitoring software to review cycle times of equipment.
• Review and coordinate project installations.
• Reprogram equipment for engineering changes and improvements.
• Maintain program backups for machinery and automation.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees