Senior Controls Engineer

LF Studios • Blue Ash, OH

6d

About The Position

LifeFormations designs and fabricates animated figures (animatronics), sculpted elements, exhibits, and interactive experiences for theme parks, museums, science centers, and branded spaces worldwide. The company is seeking a full-time Senior Controls Engineer to join its team in Cincinnati, Ohio. The role calls for strong electrical engineering fundamentals and extensive hands-on experience in motion control, automation, and complex electromechanical systems. Experience in themed entertainment is desirable; candidates from industrial automation, robotics, or other motion-control-intensive industries will also be considered.

The Senior Controls Engineer serves as a technical authority for electrical engineering, motion control, and show-control systems. The role leads controls architecture and design, develops and optimizes multi-axis motion-control systems, and provides technical guidance to engineers, technicians, and production personnel. It also owns controls systems through design, fabrication, integration, testing, and commissioning, including factory and site acceptance testing, troubleshooting, and support at domestic and international project sites.

Requirements

• Minimum 7–10 years of professional experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, robotics, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience independently designing and commissioning complex electromechanical control systems.
• Advanced knowledge of servo motion control, motor drives, electrical power distribution, and industrial control architectures.
• Strong understanding of electrical schematics, control panel design, circuit protection, and electrical safety.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex systems involving hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces.
• Experience leading technical projects and providing engineering guidance to other team members.
• Strong communication skills and ability to interface directly with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for installation, commissioning, and technical support.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated professional experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Weigl show-control systems and animation programming.
• Experience with Elmo Motion Control, Harmonic Drive/IDT, Copley Controls, or comparable servo-drive platforms.
• Experience integrating pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric motion systems.
• Familiarity with UL 508A and applicable machinery safety standards.
• Experience developing control systems for animatronics, themed entertainment, robotics, or other complex multi-axis motion applications.
• Experience integrating motion-control subsystems with supervisory PLCs or attraction control networks.
• Previous experience serving as a technical lead or senior engineering resource.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical authority for electrical engineering, motion control, and show-control systems.
• Lead development of complete controls architectures, including power distribution, motor drives, safety circuits, communication networks, and animation playback systems.
• Evaluate technical requirements independently and develop reliable, maintainable solutions for complex animatronic and robotic applications.
• Establish and maintain electrical engineering standards, design practices, documentation requirements, and testing procedures.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and oversight to controls engineers, technicians, and other production personnel.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, production, and project management teams to resolve complex integration challenges.
• Design and implement multi-axis motion-control systems using servo motors, variable-frequency drives, pneumatic actuators, and other motion technologies.
• Develop and troubleshoot electrical schematics, control panels, wiring diagrams, and system documentation.
• Specify and integrate servo drives, motion controllers, PLCs, sensors, safety devices, and communication networks.
• Program, configure, and optimize control systems for precise, repeatable, synchronized motion.
• Integrate subsystem controllers with higher-level supervisory and attraction control systems.
• Evaluate emerging control technologies and recommend improvements to system performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Take technical ownership of controls systems through design, fabrication, integration, testing, and commissioning.
• Lead factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and system troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve complex electrical, software, and motion-control issues.
• Support installation and commissioning at domestic and international project sites.
• Ensure compliance with applicable electrical codes, safety requirements, and client specifications.
• Develop technical documentation, commissioning procedures, and maintenance recommendations.

What This Job Offers

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