Senior Controls Engineer
About The Position
Lincoln Electric is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to join a growing engineering team that designs and builds custom automated manufacturing equipment for customers across a variety of industries. The role brings complex machines to life through PLC, HMI, motion control, and PC-based programming. It is a hands-on position spanning the machine lifecycle, from concept and design through testing, installation, and customer startup. The engineer collaborates with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams and works with industry-leading automation technologies. The position is based in Plymouth, and travel of approximately 30–50% is required for customer installations and commissioning.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, or Automation Engineering, or 10+ years of equivalent hands-on industry experience.
- At least 5 years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or machine programming.
- Experience programming PLCs and HMIs in a manufacturing or machine-building environment.
- Proficiency with one or more major automation platforms, such as Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk, Siemens TIA Portal, or an equivalent industrial automation platform.
- Experience with industrial communication networks, including EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, or similar protocols.
- Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to travel approximately 30–50% for customer installations and commissioning.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with robotics integration and programming.
- Motion control, servo systems, and coordinated motion experience.
- Familiarity with machine safety systems and safety PLCs.
- Experience with vision inspection systems.
- Knowledge of SQL, C#, VB.NET, or other PC-based programming languages.
- Experience in custom machine building, packaging, assembly, material handling, or automated manufacturing systems.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement PLC control systems for custom automated machinery.
- Create and maintain PC-based control software and industrial automation applications.
- Develop HMI and operator interface solutions.
- Program and integrate motion control systems, servos, VFDs, robotics, and machine safety devices.
- Test, troubleshoot, and optimize machine performance during assembly and startup.
- Conduct system validation, debugging, and performance improvements.
- Support machine commissioning in-house and at customer sites.
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing teams throughout project execution.
- Work with customers and installation contractors to support successful system deployment.
- Maintain software documentation, revision control, and programming standards.
- Assist with continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of new automation technologies.
Benefits
- Opportunities for technical growth, leadership development, and career advancement.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
