Industrial Automation Controls Engineer TekPro Engineering Elgin, IL Job Details $115,000 - $125,000 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Electrical automation system implementation PLC-based control system operation Engineering equipment malfunctions diagnostics On-site technical support Human-machine interface (HMI) systems Electrical drafting for control systems projects Engineering development testing Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering Customer service Technical documentation Machine troubleshooting Electronic systems troubleshooting Electrical schematic reading and interpretation Mid-level Industrial equipment installation Industrial equipment troubleshooting Collaboration with product development teams Electrical motors Troubleshooting electrical systems Design development System testing Design engineering Collaboration with manufacturing teams Customer support Electrical control system maintenance Electrical drafting for industrial equipment projects AC/DC drives Commissioning phase involvement Electrical Engineering Ladder logic (LD) Full Job Description Industrial Automation Controls Engineer About the role Our partner is a well-established manufacturer of custom automated machinery seeking a Controls Engineer who will take full ownership of controls projects—from concept and programming through testing, commissioning, and startup. You'll collaborate tightly with mechanical engineering and manufacturing while staying hands-on with advanced automation in a low-travel environment. A day in the life Start your day aligning with mechanical design on motion sequences and safety I/O. Move into building ladder logic or structured text in Allen‑Bradley Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal, then design intuitive HMI screens. On the floor, you'll integrate PLCs, HMIs, sensors, motors, and VFDs; bring up panels; validate I/O; and debug issues during machine build, FAT, and startup—capturing updates in clear electrical schematics and documentation. A few times each quarter, you'll travel (about 10-15%) to install, commission, and start up equipment, and you'll provide remote and onsite support as needed. What you'll tackle Create, test, and troubleshoot PLC control logic on Allen‑Bradley and/or Siemens platforms. Design and configure HMIs for automated equipment, emphasizing clear workflows and diagnostics. Draft and revise electrical controls and schematics; maintain system documentation. Integrate PLCs, HMIs, sensors, motors, drives, and related industrial components into cohesive systems. Diagnose electrical and controls issues during build, test, and startup; drive timely resolutions. Partner closely with mechanical engineering and manufacturing throughout development. Support equipment testing, commissioning, installation, and customer startup. Provide field and remote technical support on controls-related issues. Travel approximately 10-15% for installation, startup, and customer support. What you bring Hands-on programming experience with Allen‑Bradley and/or Siemens PLCs. HMI development background and familiarity with industrial automation environments. Solid grasp of electrical controls, schematics, sensors, motors, VFDs, and associated hardware. Proven troubleshooting skills on automated machinery or industrial equipment. Ability to independently manage controls scope while collaborating within a broader engineering team. Bachelor's in Electrical, Controls, Automation Engineering, or a related field preferred. Why you'll like it here End-to-end ownership on custom automated machinery with significant technical variety. See your work through programming, testing, debugging, and startup. Limited travel (about 10-15%)—no heavy road schedule. High visibility within an engineering organization that values technical leadership. Modern Allen‑Bradley and Siemens ecosystems. Join an established company actively investing in engineering and automation. Proficiencies PLC troubleshooting Electrical schematics Troubleshooting industrial automation equipment PLC programming HMI development Machines & technologies you'll use Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) Programmable Logic Controllers (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens)