Sr. Lead Controls Engineer - Second Shift

International Motors•Huntsville, AL

21h•Onsite

About The Position

International Motors is seeking a highly skilled Second Shift Senior Lead Controls Engineer to play a critical role in supporting and advancing our T14 Transmission operations. This role serves as a technical leader and key liaison between engineering, maintenance, and production teams, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing performance. The Senior Lead Controls Engineer will provide hands-on day-to-day production support while driving continuous improvement initiatives across controls, automation, and electrical systems. This includes the design, implementation, optimization, and troubleshooting of PLC- and HMI-based control systems, as well as oversight of industrial networks and power distribution supporting current and future assembly lines. In this role, you will lead controls-related projects from concept through commissioning, influence equipment standards, and mentor junior engineers and technicians. You will partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders to resolve complex technical issues, reduce downtime, improve throughput, and enhance system robustness in a high-volume manufacturing environment. This position requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands-on technical expertise, and strong communication skills to support production targets and long-term operational excellence. The Huntsville facility runs a 4x10 production schedule.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of product manufacturing experience
At least 1 years of lead experience OR Master's degree and at least 3 years of product manufacturing experience
At least 1 years of lead experience OR At least 8 years of product manufacturing experience
At least 1 years of lead experience
Qualified candidates, excluding current employees, must be legally authorized on an unrestricted basis (US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, Refugee or Asylee) to be employed in the United States.
We do not anticipate providing employment related work sponsorship for this position (e.g., H-1B status)

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with Siemens PLC programming
Experience working with HMI and/or SCADA platforms
Strong troubleshooting mindset with the ability to work independently
Solid communication skills and ability to work across teams
Experience with vision systems (Fanuc IRVision, Keyence, and Cognex etc)
Experience with setting up and modifying SQL databases
MES (manufacturing execution systems) controls is a plus
Experience with AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles)
Experience designing and installing medium and low voltage power distribution systems
Willing to travel internationally

Responsibilities

Lead controls strategies and solutions that maximize uptime, throughput, and first‑time‑through quality across automated engine and transmission assembly lines.
Serve as the primary controls escalation point for powertrain operations, delivering cross‑functional troubleshooting for issues impacting safety, torque accuracy, traceability, and line performance.
Design, program, and standardize Siemens‑based control systems (PLC, HMI, SCADA) for new launches, line upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Diagnose and resolve complex automation issues involving motion, safety systems, and industrial networks (Profinet/Profibus), applying root‑cause analysis to prevent recurrence and reduce downtime.
Oversee controls integration activities, including equipment installation, commissioning, upgrades, and long‑term system support within high‑volume automotive environments.
Evaluate and select automation and electrical equipment to meet automotive performance, reliability, lifecycle cost, and manufacturing standards.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technicians, maintenance, and process teams while maintaining robust controls documentation and OEM technical compliance.