Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer

Location: Kansas City

Compensation

• $95,000 - $110,000 annually- open for negotiations
• Sign on bonus
• Relocation package if relocating
• Exempt position with straight-time overtime after 45 hours worked
• 120 hours of PTO (prorated based on start date)
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, and more.

Schedule – C Crew

• Sunday & Monday: 5:30 PM – 4:00 AM
• Friday & Saturday: 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Position Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Controls Engineer to support highly automated manufacturing operations in a fast-paced production environment. This is not a traditional desk-based controls engineering role. The ideal candidate enjoys spending time on the plant floor, troubleshooting equipment, working alongside Maintenance and Production teams, and implementing long-term process improvements.

This role supports projects from concept through production launch while developing, programming, maintaining, and improving automated control systems that are critical to manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and support PLCs, robotics, HMIs, vision systems (Cognex/Keyence), scanners, torque control systems, and automated assembly equipment.
• Develop, program, document, and improve control systems for new and existing production lines.
• Support equipment launches, engineering changes, and automation projects.
• Coordinate controls-related activities with equipment vendors and internal engineering teams.
• Integrate and network PLCs, PCs, and manufacturing systems.
• Minimize production downtime by providing real-time controls support.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through automation, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, TPM, OEE, and other operational excellence tools.
• Develop equipment specifications, support capital projects, and assist with process improvements.
• Mentor Maintenance Technicians and provide technical guidance on controls-related issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Programming, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of Controls Engineering or advanced Maintenance experience in an automated manufacturing environment.
• Experience programming Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix, RSLogix 5000, SLC 500).
• Experience with Cognex or Keyence vision systems.
• HMI programming experience (PanelView/PanelView Plus).
• Strong troubleshooting experience with automated assembly equipment.
• Experience with robotics, industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, TCP/IP), and manufacturing automation.
• Automotive manufacturing experience is a plus.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys getting out on the production floor and solving real-world manufacturing problems. Success in this role comes from understanding not only the PLC logic but also how the equipment operates, how the manufacturing process flows, and how operators interact with the machinery. We're looking for a collaborative, hands-on engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about improving automation and production performance.