Title: Senior Controls Engineer
Location: Manchester, IA
Type: Permanent/Direct-Hire

About Client
Client is a leading energy storage solutions manufacturer headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. The company serves the Transportation, Essential Power, Motive Power, Military, and Government sectors through a broad portfolio of battery technologies, chargers, and energy management solutions. With 11 manufacturing facilities across the United States and more than 100 years of industry expertise, Stryten supports critical applications ranging from automotive and industrial batteries to microgrids, warehouses, distribution centers, rail systems, and defense applications.

The organization continues to invest heavily in manufacturing automation, Industry 4.0 initiatives, and operational excellence across its facilities, creating opportunities for engineers to make a measurable impact on productivity, safety, quality, and uptime.

Overview
Client is seeking a hands-on Senior Controls Engineer to join its growing corporate Automation Engineering team supporting manufacturing operations, with a primary focus on Transportation facilities. This individual will serve as a technical leader for automation, controls, troubleshooting, and process improvement initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites.

The ideal candidate enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, improving equipment performance, and driving automation projects from concept through implementation. This role combines controls engineering, process optimization, PLC programming, SCADA/MES development, and hands-on manufacturing support. The engineer will play a critical role in improving uptime, increasing production efficiency, enhancing operator safety, and advancing Stryten's broader automation strategy.

This position offers strong visibility across the organization and the opportunity to support multiple facilities while working alongside a highly collaborative automation engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource for controls-related troubleshooting and automation improvements.
• Take ownership of automation systems and controls architecture on manufacturing equipment.
• Analyze manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, throughput, quality, and safety.
• Design and implement automation upgrades across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Develop and deploy standardized controls solutions for similar equipment throughout the organization.
• Design custom control panels using AutoCAD Electrical and create complete drawing packages.
• Develop electrical schematics and control panel designs from scratch.
• Program, modify, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, motion control systems, and industrial networks.
• Develop and tune PID control loops for critical manufacturing processes.
• Design and implement SCADA and MES solutions to improve operational visibility and manufacturing performance.
• Collect and analyze process data to identify key performance indicators and improvement opportunities.
• Support Industry 4.0 and IIoT initiatives throughout the organization.
• Partner closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and external vendors.
• Develop technical documentation, training materials, and process change procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on uptime, reliability, and production output.
• Build strong working relationships with plant personnel and become a trusted engineering resource.

Hard Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• 5+ years of controls, automation, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering experience.
• Strong experience operating independently with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to identify and implement process improvements in manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with Allen Bradley PLCs strongly preferred.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation software including:
  • RSLogix 5
  • RSLogix 500
  • RSLogix 5000
  • FactoryTalk
  • RSLinx / Communications packages
• Experience with HMI development and configuration.
• Experience with at least one of the following platforms:
  • Ignition (preferred)
  • Wonderware
  • Intellution
  • FactoryTalk View
  • GE Cimplicity
  • Citect
  • Iconics
  • Siemens
  • US Data
• Experience with SCADA and/or MES systems.
• Knowledge of industrial networking technologies including Ethernet/IP, ControlNet, and DeviceNet.
• Experience with motion controls, servo systems, and industrial sensors.
• Working knowledge of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Proficiency creating CAD drawings and electrical schematics from scratch.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Allen Bradley controls expertise in a manufacturing environment.
• Ignition SCADA platform experience.
• AutoCAD Electrical experience.
• MES implementation experience.
• Industry 4.0 and IIoT project experience.
• Six Sigma Certification.
• Multi-site manufacturing support experience.
• Experience leading automation standardization initiatives across facilities.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 25% travel to manufacturing facilities.

Work Environment

• Combination of office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Exposure to industrial equipment, automation systems, and manufacturing operations.
• Work around heavy machinery, noise, heat, chemicals, and industrial processes.
• PPE will be provided and required when working in production areas.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and work in industrial environments as needed.

Growth Opportunity

• Part of a centralized Automation Engineering team supporting facilities nationwide.
• Opportunity to influence automation strategy across 11 manufacturing plants.
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies, MES, SCADA, Industry 4.0, and IIoT initiatives.
• Defined engineering career progression path supporting advancement into both technical leadership and management tracks.
• High-visibility role with direct impact on manufacturing performance and operational excellence.

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 85000.00/Yearly.