Controls Engineer – Industrial Automation & Automated Vehicle Wash Systems

Our client is seeking a Controls Engineer with strong mechanical aptitude to support the design, programming, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated vehicle wash systems. This role blends controls engineering with hands‑on mechanical work and field support.

The ideal candidate is comfortable working with mechanical assemblies, electrical systems, PLC/HMI logic, and automated equipment in both office and customer environments.

Onsite | No Visa Sponsorship | No Relocation Assistance

Travel: 20% (primarily short trips; occasional overnight travel)

Responsibilities:

• Design, program, modify, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI applications.
• Collaborate with project managers to meet design, schedule, and budget requirements.
• Travel to customer sites (~20%) for startups, mechanical troubleshooting, and field inspections.
• Apply continuous improvement and lean principles to enhance system reliability and performance.
• Support service and sales teams with BOMs, technical evaluations, quotes, and jobsite walkthroughs.
• Interpret mechanical drawings and equipment layouts to ensure proper integration with control systems.
• Serve as the Controls Engineer for small to medium automated equipment projects from design through commissioning.
• Diagnose and resolve system issues both remotely and onsite, including mechanical root‑cause analysis and PLC/electrical
• troubleshooting.
• Create accurate engineering drawings (mechanical layouts, schematics, control documentation) using AutoCAD or similar tools.

Qualifications (Must-Haves)

• Proficiency with AutoCAD or similar design software for mechanical and electrical documentation.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical prints, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and blueprints.
• Proven experience with PLC programming, controls troubleshooting, and industrial automation systems.
• Experience working with electro‑mechanical systems in industrial, manufacturing, or automated equipment environments.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, particularly in identifying mechanical failures that impact system performance.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across engineering, service, sales, and project teams.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to understand and troubleshoot pumps, conveyors, spray assemblies, and drive mechanisms.
• All education levels considered; technical school training or equivalent hands‑on experience is fully acceptable.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with pumps, fluid‑handling systems, conveyors, or wash/rinse systems.
• Exposure to field commissioning, equipment startups, or customer‑facing technical support.
• Experience with OEM machinery, automated equipment, material handling, packaging systems, or other electro‑mechanical industrial equipment.

Perks:

• Stable, hands‑on engineering environment with meaningful technical ownership.
• Opportunity to influence system performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
• Work on custom, high‑impact automated systems used across transportation and industrial sectors.
• Blend of controls engineering, mechanical troubleshooting, and field work ideal for engineers who enjoy variety.