Senior/Staff Controls Engineer
About The Position
Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe. We innovate in the next generation electric vehicle and energy storage technologies (lithium batteries and related systems) with the aim to accelerate electrified transportation and achieve sustainable development. Gotion is powered by a leading power battery technology company that provides solutions for vehicles including the world's first mass commercial e-bus route. Gotion is a career destination - we are not simply attempting to just fill another job, but to pursue a dream of global green energy together! We offer outstanding opportunities to individuals seeking an exciting and challenging working environment. Everyone is highly valued and plays a vital role in the growth of our organization. Location: Manteno, IL | On-site Position Overview We are seeking a highly experienced Senior/Staff PLC/Controls Engineer to take ownership of automation and control systems for our Pack & Module production line at Gotion’s Manteno facility. This role will lead troubleshooting, stabilization, and optimization of production equipment, while also mentoring existing Controls Engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive throughput and yield improvements. This is a hands-on role requiring strong problem-solving skills, deep PLC expertise, and proven manufacturing floor experience.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Automation/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years of PLC/Controls experience in a manufacturing environment (assembly / automated production / automotive / battery industry preferred).
- Expert-level Siemens PLC programming (TIA Portal / S7-1500).
- Experience with industrial communication protocols (Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus).
- Strong troubleshooting and electrical diagnostic ability; able to solve system-level issues independently.
- Able to work onsite full-time in a fast-paced production environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Omron PLC.
- Robotics and machine vision integration experience.
- Experience stabilizing production lines during ramp-up.
Responsibilities
- Lead troubleshooting and optimization of PLC, HMI, motion control, and industrial networking systems across the production line.
- Diagnose chronic automation issues impacting throughput, yield, and process stability; develop and execute permanent corrective actions.
- Reprogram, tune, and standardize PLC logic (primarily Siemens S7-1500 / TIA Portal, plus some Omron).
- Improve and maintain equipment documentation, parameter settings, software version control, and backup libraries.
- Collaborate with Process, Quality, and Maintenance teams to drive continuous improvement.
- Lead controls-related Root Cause Analysis (RCA), FMEA, DOE activities.
- Provide technical leadership and knowledge transfer to internal Controls Engineers and Technicians; coach and elevate team capability.
- Support new equipment integration, commissioning, and upgrades.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation and benefits package
- Opportunity to lead automation strategy during rapid scale-up
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
