PLC Controls Engineer – Custom Automation (Jr/Mid/Sr Openings)

Gables Search Group

Germantown, WI

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$75,000–$110,000
SKILLS
Allen-Bradley, AutoCAD, Automation, Bill of Materials (BOM), Broadband, Commissioning, Computer Science, Control Engineering, Control Systems, Database Programming, Design Verification, Editing, Electrical Engineering, Electricity, Enterprise Applications, Ethernet, Human Machine Interface (HMI), IP (Internet Protocol), Microsoft C# (C Sharp), Microsoft Visual Basic.NET, Microsoft Visual Studio, Network Administration/Management, Network Protocols, OSHA, Philosophy, Program Control, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Regulations, Relational Databases (RDBMS), SQL Databases, Schematics, Servomechanism, Startup, Team Player, Training/Teaching, Travel Policy, Welding, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Germantown, WI
POSTED
5 days ago

PLC Controls Engineer – Custom Automation (Jr/Mid/Sr Openings)

$75,000 – $110,000 Base Salary + Profit Sharing • Greater Milwaukee Area • Onsite / Travel Flex Join a rapidly expanding custom controls integrator doubling in size annually with zero corporate bureaucracy Own your automation code from a blank-screen architecture all the way through to live on-site field commissioning

  • EXPERIENCE LEVEL 2+ years of professional automation depth (Openings actively calibrated for Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior talents)
  • CORE LOGIC Proven mastery developing PLC and HMI programs entirely from scratch using Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms (Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000)
  • TRAVEL & ROAD BALANCE 25% to 50% domestic travel to spearhead on-site client commissions. Elite travel perk: Weekend field deployments automatically trigger immediate, guaranteed comp days for 4-day weekends upon return.
  • COMPENSATION $75,000 – $110,000 annual base range + substantial annual holiday bonuses and highly impactful profit-sharing payouts
  • WORK TYPE Full-Time, Permanent, W-2 direct hire position (Highly dynamic, collaborative engineering lab and assembly environment)
  • LOCATION Greater Milwaukee / Washington County corridor (Must reside within a comfortable 45-minute commute of the area)
  • COMPLIANCE United States Citizens or Green Card holders only (Sponsorship is not available)

If you are a controls engineer who is tired of being stuck in a repetitive plant maintenance loop or siloed into rewriting the exact same corporate machine template for the thousandth time, we offer the ultimate antidote to career burnout. We are a premier, lightning-fast automation integration firm that has successfully doubled our revenue and team footprint year-over-year. Our engineering philosophy is strictly anti-monotony: every single assignment we win is a custom, ground-up solution. You will actively jump across large-scale software integrations, high-speed conveyor sortation networks, robotic welding cells, and ultra-precise servo-driven motion systems.

We protect our engineering talent aggressively. We recognize that field commissioning takes dedication, which is why we have implemented a strict, non-negotiable travel-balancing policy: if a customer startup forces you to travel over a weekend, you are instantly awarded comp days to ensure you come back home to a relaxing four-day weekend. No exceptions, no corporate guilt. If you want to take true project ownership, watch your code command massive physical machines, and build a career where your name actually carries weight, this is the environment you've been looking for.

What You Will Be Doing

  • Developing robust PLC programs and intuitive HMI interfaces completely from scratch for complex, custom automation machinery, robotic cells, and specialized sorting systems
  • Engineering advanced operator interfaces using FactoryTalk View, or incorporating Visual Studio and C# for high-level enterprise software and database integrations
  • Reviewing, modifying, and perfecting detailed electrical schematics in AutoCAD to verify panel layouts align with Bill of Materials (BOM) specs and safety regulations
  • Implementing, configuring, and troubleshooting industrial networking protocols and safety architectures, including EtherNet/IP, multi-axis servo motion, machine vision systems, and safety controllers (NEC/OSHA compliant)
  • Serving as the primary technical field authority during on-site customer startups, supervising installations, and executing final commissioning sequences

What We Are Looking For

  • Ground-Up Controls Depth: 2 or more years of verifiable professional experience designing and programming control systems. Must have direct experience writing logic from scratch using Allen-Bradley/Rockwell platforms (Studio 5000/RSLogix), not just tweaking pre-existing code blocks.
  • Technical Education: An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related engineering field.
  • Professional Stability: A reliable career track record showing steady tenure and commitment with prior employers (ideally 3+ years per stop).
  • Field Flexibility: The willingness and capability to travel domestically between 25% and 50% to champion custom integration rollouts at client sites.
  • Local Proximity: Permanent residency established within a 45-minute drive of the Greater Milwaukee / Washington County corridor to support active lab collaboration.

Strong Pluses (Not Required)

  • Hands-on configuration of advanced multi-axis servo motion systems or industrial vision platforms (Cognex, Keyence, etc.)
  • High-level language coding proficiency (C#, VB.NET) or SQL relational database programming depth
  • Direct programming, path teaching, or integration experience with FANUC or alternative industrial robotic arms

Comprehensive Corporate Benefits

  • Full Corporate Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
  • Simple IRA retirement plan featuring a direct company matching contribution
  • Generous annual holiday bonuses and an impactful company profit-sharing program
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) bank and paid corporate holidays

About the Company

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Gables Search Group

Gables Search Group headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio has been a leader in search and placement nationwide since 2002.  Our company specializes in both direct and contract (temporary) staffing in all industries and disciplines.

At Gables Search Group, we connect exceptional professionals with outstanding organizations.  Our commitment to integrity, excellence, partnership, innovation, and respect sets us apart. With a personalized approach to recruitment, we ensure the perfect match between candidates and employers.

Whether you are a talented professional seeking new opportunities or an organization looking to build a high-performing team, Gables Search Group is here to guide you through the journey. Our success is built on the success of our clients and candidates, and we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the careers and businesses we serve.

COMPANY SIZE
50 to 99 employees
INDUSTRY
Staffing/Employment Agencies
FOUNDED
2002
WEBSITE
https://www.gablessearch.com/