Senior Automation Controls Engineer

Senior Automation Controls Engineer

Essex / Westbrook, CT

Relocation Assistance Available

Are you the type of engineer who prefers building automation systems from the ground up rather than maintaining equipment designed by someone else?

We're seeking an Automation Controls Engineer to join a highly respected manufacturing organization known for designing and building sophisticated custom automation equipment that supports advanced precision manufacturing operations.

This is a true cradle to grave engineering role where you will own projects from concept through commissioning. You'll work closely with mechanical engineering teams to design, program, integrate, test, and optimize custom automation systems that directly impact manufacturing performance and innovation.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and develop custom automation equipment from concept through startup

• Program Allen Bradley PLCs from a clean sheet using Studio 5000

• Create electrical schematics and control panel designs using AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD, or EPLAN

• Develop intuitive HMI interfaces and operator screens

• Integrate robotics, vision systems, motion control, servos, pneumatics, and machine safety systems

• Program and configure industrial robots, including specialty machine applications

• Support commissioning, debugging, testing, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and project teams throughout the equipment lifecycle

What We're Looking For

• Experience programming PLCs from scratch, not simply modifying existing code

• Allen Bradley Studio 5000 experience strongly preferred

• Experience creating electrical schematics and controls designs from concept

• AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD, or EPLAN experience

• Robot programming experience for custom automation equipment

• HMI development experience

• Vision system integration experience, Cognex or Keyence preferred

• Experience with motion control, servo systems, sensors, and industrial automation hardware

• Strong troubleshooting and problem solving abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent automation controls experience

Preferred Experience

• Ignition SCADA

• Cognex Vision Systems

• Keyence Vision Systems

• Epson Robotics

• Custom machine building

• Automated assembly equipment

• Precision manufacturing automation

Why Engineers Are Interested

• Full project ownership from design through implementation

• Highly technical engineering environment

• Custom automation and machine development

• No customer site travel

• Stable, long term organization with strong employee retention

• Collaborative engineering culture

• Opportunity to work with advanced robotics, vision systems, controls, and automation technologies

Compensation

Compensation is flexible and will be aligned with experience and technical expertise.

If you're passionate about designing automation systems from a blank page and want to see your ideas come to life on the manufacturing floor, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect.