Controls Engineer

What do we do?

Spartan Light Metal Products is on the cutting edge of automotive manufacturing. We make highly engineered parts for electric, and fuel powered vehicles. Our parts go on automakers like General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda. The Company is family-owned, and we have lived our family values for the past 60 years. We believe in servant leadership, collaboration, safety and quality. We have talented people that work hard and have fun.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, company provided life insurance

401k Match

Tuition reimbursement

Growth and development opportunities 

Bonus opportunities 
 
GENERAL SUMMARY:
 
The Controls Engineer provides technical expertise, development and support of the controls of our manufacturing equipment and data systems. This role contributes to the attainment of Spartan's operational goals/objectives by improved manufacturing efficiency, quality and cost. Demonstrates Spartan's Core Operating Values through actions and behaviors.
 
PRIMARY DUTIES:

1. Apply engineering knowledge and expertise in providing on-going support for the plant floor related to system controls/PLC's and their related hardware, software and equipment, including proper use, troubleshooting, problem solving, continuous improvement and training.

2. Maintain involvement and alignment with plant maintenance and engineering teams. Provide guidance to any new equipment, tooling or modifications to existing equipment or tooling that require controls input to ensure all consistency in standards and methods.

3. Utilizing engineering expertise, lead and/or support the Spartan team during new machine design/development and concepts. Carry forward lessons learned and Spartan Standards.

4. Implement standard engineering practices in problem solving and projects. Provide detailed documentation upon project completion along with recommended updates to Spartan Equipment Standards.

5. Provide equipment and system control solutions to achieve Spartan's manufacturing objectives, which includes the design and engineering of PLC control and modifications for a wide variety of manufacturing production equipment.

6. Lead the design and development of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for production and operations support equipment.

7. Provide concept oversight to electrical assembly activities such as panel fabrication and component wiring.

8. Support field installation and mechanical/electrical integration of automation equipment, including mounting modules and devices (sensors, valves, drives, junction boxes, panels), coordinating and/or assisting with conduit/cable-tray layout and routing, pulling/terminating/labeling conductors, and performing point-to-point verification during equipment builds, retrofits and launches.

9. Produce and update electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and other industrial CAD drawings/schematics.

10. Wire and integrate new automation devices in legacy or undocumented systems by safely tracing circuits, verifying power/control signals, validating I/O operation, and creating as-built documentation for verified terminations and wiring paths.

11. Maintains updated knowledge of latest technology in robotics, controls, sensors and vision systems. Works with component and equipment suppliers to test and trial new technology that has potential to improve manufacturing operations and provide a competitive advantage.

12. Systems integration of 3rd party equipment and peripherals.

13. Provide support to the plant floor to aid in covering vacations and absences in the Support department.

Other Duties:

1. Provides technical controls guidance, support and/or mentorship across all Spartan plants as needed

2. Participates in formal problem-solving efforts utilizing A3, 8-D, and Six Sigma techniques as appropriate to the situation.

3. Contributes to and supports the existence of a positive work environment through personal involvement by communicating, interacting and behaving in a manner that promotes productive relationships with coworkers, supervisors, customers, and others with whom such relationships are important to the success of company operations.

4. Performs other duties as assigned.

GENERAL SUMMARY (No more than three sentences)

Supervisory Responsibilities - Does not have supervisory responsibilities or direct reports. Facilitates group meetings to accomplish tasks and troubleshoot problems.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

* Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related technical field

* 3-5 years controls engineering experience

* 5-10 years maintenance experience

• Working proficiency in one primary platform: Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) PLC/HMI development and support using Studio 5000 / RSLogix and FactoryTalk, OR FANUC robot programming, integration, and troubleshooting (TP programming).

Preferred: High volume automotive with automated machining and assembly equipment experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Computer, technical, mechanical, mathematical and/or scientific skills

• Proficient skills and experience in following controls programming areas:
• Ladder logic programming
• HMI software
• Ignition SCADA/HMI development, visualization and reporting
• Industrial networking fundamentals (IP addressing/subnetting, VLANs, managed switches, and network documentation)
• Experience with common industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP preferred; OPC UA and Modbus TCP a plus)
• Ability to troubleshoot plant-floor networks
• Proficient skills in Allen Bradley Factory Talk and Studio 5000
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing concepts, 5S and visual factory concepts
• Proficient skills in interfacing industrial robots and experience in robot programming (Fanuc preferred)
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills

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