Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Automation Controls Engineer

Pay: $80,000–$120,000 based on experience + overtime pay

Location: Westbrook, Maine 

Position Overview

Join an employee-owned automation company designing and building custom automation equipment for the medical, defense, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries.

This is a hands-on role for an experienced Controls Engineer who enjoys owning projects from PLC programming and system integration through machine commissioning and customer acceptance testing.

What You’ll Do

• Program PLCs using ladder logic and develop HMIs for custom automation equipment

• Integrate robots, vision systems, sensors, servo drives, and motion control systems

• Test machine sequences and troubleshoot electrical and control system issues

• Work with mechanical, electrical, and design teams throughout machine builds

• Travel to customer sites for commissioning, acceptance testing, system updates, and troubleshooting

• Read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation

• Support technicians during machine builds, debugging, and testing

• Maintain technical documentation, calibration records, and machine manuals

• Contribute to continuous improvement and ISO procedures

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on controls programming or industrial automation experience

• Strong PLC programming skills; ladder logic required

• HMI/SCADA development experience

• Experience with industrial robots, vision systems, and servo/motion control

• Knowledge of industrial networks such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, ProfiNet, DeviceNet, or IO-Link

• Ability to troubleshoot complex systems independently

• Ability to read electrical schematics and understand basic pneumatic systems

• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, or a related field, or equivalent experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Preferred Experience

• Rockwell PanelView or FactoryTalk Optix

• Cognex or Keyence vision systems

• Structured Text or Function Block programming

• 6-axis, SCARA, or Cartesian robots

Compensation & Perks

• $80K–$120K annual pay, based on experience

• Hourly, overtime-eligible position — earn extra pay for additional hours

• Paid travel time at your hourly rate

• Additional travel incentive

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

• 401(k) with company match

• Medical, dental, and life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Paid time off and paid holidays

• Paid parental leave

• Tuition reimbursement

Why Consider This Role?

• Work on fully custom automation systems — no two machines are the same

• Support advanced industries, including medical, defense, and electronics

• Own projects from programming through commissioning

• Work with experienced, collaborative engineering and technical teams

• Gain exposure to complex robotics, vision, and motion control applications

• Join an employee-owned company where employees share in its success

• Travel internationally and domestically as projects require, with travel compensation