Project Engineer - Controls - Automotive/Industrial Paint

Title: Project Engineer - Controls - Automotive/Industrial Paint

Location: Remote from Michigan

Duration: 12 months contract to hire

Pay: $50 - $70 +

Find out more about this role by reading the information below, then apply to be considered.

Project Engineer – Controls Engineering / Automotive & Industrial Paint Finishing

Position Summary

A leading engineering and automation organization is seeking a Project Engineer – Controls Engineering to support automotive and industrial paint finishing projects. This role is responsible for the design and execution of controls engineering deliverables across a project portfolio.

The position requires proficiency with Rockwell Automation PLC platforms, the ability to produce a complete suite of engineering deliverables, and the technical knowledge to specify control panel components, configure HMI/SCADA systems, and support field commissioning. The Project Engineer works within a project team under the direction of a Project Manager and senior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

PLC Programming & System Design

• Develop, configure, and test PLC programs using Rockwell Automation platforms, including Logix5, Logix500, and Studio 5000.
• Read, interpret, and apply project specifications and P&IDs to specify instrumentation and control panel components.
• Develop control narratives, functional descriptions, and loop drawings for project deliverables.
• Configure HMI and SCADA applications, including FactoryTalk View and Ignition, to support system operation, diagnostics, and operator interfaces.

Control Panel Engineering

• Create control panel schematics, loop drawings, and sheet metal/enclosure drawings.
• Calculate panel heat loads and amperage loadings and prepare subplate and enclosure layouts.
• Assemble and manage bills of materials (BOMs) for control panels and field instrumentation.
• Prepare project submittal packages, RFI responses, and design change documentation.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing and Purchasing teams to support accurate and efficient control panel fabrication and procurement.

Project Coordination & Commissioning

• Coordinate with Project Managers, CAD Technicians, and Field Service Engineers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and site commissioning activities.
• Support system startup, debugging, troubleshooting, and client/operator training at end-user sites as needed.
• Work collaboratively with engineering, estimating, purchasing, manufacturing, and field service teams to ensure project deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Proficiency with Rockwell Automation platforms, including Logix5, Logix500, and Studio 5000.
• Exposure to Siemens platforms such as TIA Portal and WinCC is a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs and project specifications and apply them to control panel and instrumentation design decisions.
• Experience producing panel schematics, loop drawings, and control panel documentation.
• Working knowledge of process control systems, instrumentation, and analog/digital I/O.
• Working knowledge of HMI/SCADA platforms such as FactoryTalk View and Ignition.
• Experience in industrial paint finishing or automotive manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage engineering deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary project team.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering with a minimum of 1 year of related controls engineering experience OR
• Associate's degree in Engineering with a minimum of 2 years of related controls engineering experience OR
• In lieu of a degree, 7–10 years of directly related controls engineering experience

Certifications & Licenses

• Valid driver's license required.
• Rockwell Automation certifications, including Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk, preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibility.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Regularly uses hands to finger, handle, or feel and reaches with hands and arms.
• Frequently sits, stands, walks, talks, and hears.
• Regularly lifts and/or moves items weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally lifts up to 50 pounds.
• Requires close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, as well as the ability to adjust focus.
• May be required to enter confined spaces and/or work at elevated heights.
• Fieldwork may involve exposure to moving mechanical equipment and industrial robots, high elevations, confined spaces, fumes, solvents, airborne particles, flammable or combustible materials, hazardous/classified locations, elevated temperatures near curing ovens, outdoor weather conditions, electrical hazards, and vibration.
• Must comply with applicable jobsite safety requirements, including drug/alcohol testing, hard hat, safety, and steel-toe footwear requirements.
• Field environments may range from moderate to loud noise levels.
• Standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and related tools, is routinely used when working in an office environment.

Travel

• Approximately 30% travel to customer sites for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and related project support.

Apply today if you have experience as a: Controls Engineer, Project Engineer, Controls Project Engineer, Automation Engineer, PLC Programmer, Control Systems Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer, Industrial Automation Engineer, Controls Design Engineer, Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, Automation Controls Engineer, Panel Design Engineer, Process Controls Engineer, Systems Integration Engineer, or Rockwell Controls Engineer.

FootBridge is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected. xhyhwjd We make employment decisions based on qualifications and business needs, without discrimination on any basis, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.