Senior Automation Controls Engineer

Lear Corporation • Southfield, MI

41d

About The Position

As a member of Lear's Automation team, the Senior Automation Controls Engineer leads, supports, implements, and manages automation projects while advancing innovation. The role develops automation-cell concepts, contributes to mechanical and electrical design, installs and launches cells, trains receiving-plant staff, and provides ongoing support. The engineer also serves as a subject-matter expert and project lead for other integrators, helping establish automation standards across North America.

The position is responsible for projects from technical specification through startup support; designing and programming electrical control systems and equipment; supporting cell installation, launch, and production; and implementing established and newly developed automation. It also involves developing contingency and disaster-recovery plans, creating robust programs to improve equipment uptime, coordinating controls systems, and documenting and applying control standards. The engineer mentors plant controls engineers, supports production, communicates across functional groups, and contributes to continuous-improvement activities. North American travel may reach 30–40%, and long hours during installations may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and/or Software Engineering.
• 5–15 years of experience in a similar role.
• Expertise in RSLogix500, RSLogix5000, Studio5000, and FactoryTalk View Studio.
• Ability to navigate and interpret structured-text programming languages such as Visual Basic, C++, C#, and Python.
• Fanuc and Universal Robots programming experience or basic understanding of robotics.
• Knowledge of IO-Link, Allen-Bradley components, drive control, Keyence cameras, and industrial networking.
• Basic experience with vision systems for guiding robots using offsets.
• Ability to understand and communicate applicable safety standards, including OSHA 1910 general industry, machine guarding, ANSI/RIA 15.06 robot safety, automated-vehicle safety, and conveyor safety.
• Ability to read and create electrical drawings in AutoCAD.
• Experience communicating with external manufacturing systems/MES and OPC.
• Experience with SCADA systems.
• Creative, results-oriented, focused, and attentive to detail and accuracy.
• Self-driven, with willingness to work long hours during installations if required.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV/AMR) experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, implement, and manage automation projects and advance automation capabilities.
• Develop automation-cell concepts and contribute to mechanical and electrical design.
• Install and launch robot cells, train receiving-plant personnel, and provide ongoing cell support.
• Lead and provide subject-matter expertise to other integrators.
• Manage projects from technical specification through startup support.
• Design and develop electrical control systems, equipment, and programming using Lear standards and innovative ideas.
• Write, implement, and debug PLC software.
• Develop contingency and disaster-recovery plans.
• Support installation, launch, and production of all cells.
• Support implementation of proven and newly developed advanced automation.
• Develop robust programming to increase equipment uptime and reduce continuous intervention.
• Document and apply existing control standards to develop requirements for automated cells.
• Coordinate and manage controls systems.
• Support risk assessments for automated equipment and communicate applicable safety standards.
• Mentor and train plant controls engineers and support production as needed.
• Communicate across cross-functional groups.
• Support Kaizen, improvement walks, and error-proofing projects.
• Travel in North America, potentially up to 30–40% of the time.

Benefits

• Opportunities for future training to broaden skills.
• Opportunity to work with a team of experts on solutions that improve efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Opportunity to work with multiple assembly plants and integrators.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior