Lead Controls & Automation Engineer

Drive Automation. Lead Critical Plant Systems. Make an Immediate Impact.

• Location: Holcomb, KS (Onsite)

• Schedule: Monday-Friday | 1st Shift (6:00 AM-4:00 PM) or 2nd Shift (3:00 PM-12:00 AM)

• Pay Rate: $90-$150/hour (based on experience)

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a Lead Controls & Automation Engineer to support a leading manufacturing operation in Holcomb, KS. This is a high-impact role for an experienced controls professional who thrives in fast-paced production environments and enjoys solving complex automation challenges.

You'll serve as a technical leader responsible for PLCs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, vision systems, and plant-floor automation. This role offers the opportunity to influence critical operations, drive modernization projects, and improve equipment reliability across a large-scale manufacturing facility.

What You'll Do

• Lead troubleshooting, programming, commissioning, and optimization of industrial control systems.

• Support and improve PLC-based automation platforms, including both legacy and modern control systems.

• Diagnose and resolve issues involving PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, drives, scanners, and field devices.

• Support automated production and material-handling systems including conveyors, motors, VFDs, sensors, photo eyes, and control sequencing.

• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot SCADA/HMI platforms including Ignition and iFIX.

• Support industrial barcode, scanning, and vision systems, including technologies such as Cognex, Keyence, and SICK.

• Perform root-cause analysis and implement long-term corrective actions to improve uptime and reliability.

• Assist with controls upgrades, modernization initiatives, and capital projects.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT teams to deliver effective automation solutions.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation, standards, and best practices.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field. Equivalent experience will be considered.

• 5+ years of controls engineering, automation engineering, or industrial controls experience.

• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric/Modicon, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.

• Experience with SCADA and HMI systems.

• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, OPC-UA, or Profinet.

• Experience troubleshooting automated production equipment and material-handling systems.

• Strong problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Schneider Electric/Modicon PLCs.

• Experience with Ignition and/or iFIX SCADA platforms.

• Experience supporting conveyor and material-handling systems.

• Experience with Cognex, Keyence, or SICK vision and scanning technologies.

• SQL database experience.

• Experience leading controls or automation projects from concept through startup.

• Food manufacturing, distribution, logistics, or heavy industrial experience.

Why Join Us

• Play a key role in supporting and improving mission-critical manufacturing operations.

• Work on challenging automation, controls, and modernization projects.

• Gain exposure to advanced PLC, SCADA, vision, and industrial network technologies.

• Collaborate with a highly skilled engineering and operations team.

• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on plant performance, reliability, and continuous improvement.

• Competitive compensation based on experience and expertise.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're a hands-on Controls & Automation Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, improving plant performance, and leading critical automation initiatives, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today and bring your controls expertise to a role where your impact will be seen every day.

Pay Details: $90.00 to $150.00 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://www.pdstech.com/candidate-privacy

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.