Controls Engineer

Department: Manufacturing Engineering

Location: Gastonia, NC

Reports To: Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance

Employment Type: Full-Time

No visa sponsorship available for this position

About Stabilus

Stabilus is a global leader in motion control solutions — gas springs, dampers, and electromechanical drives — with 8,000 employees across 45 locations worldwide.

Role Overview

You will drive measurable improvements in manufacturing performance through automation upgrades, process optimization, and data-driven analysis. The goal is to reduce downtime, eliminate waste, and deliver sustained OEE gains across production lines.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and eliminate root causes of availability, performance, and quality losses
• Design and implement automation solutions that reduce cycle time and unplanned downtime
• Lead line upgrade and new machine introduction projects
• Develop data collection and monitoring solutions from PLC/machine level to shopfloor dashboards
• Standardize automation platforms and programming practices across lines
• Implement and improve machine safety systems, including risk assessments, safety circuit design, and compliance with relevant safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061)
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Production, and Quality teams on improvement initiatives

Technical Requirements

PLC

• TIA Portal, Step 7, Step 5
• PROFINET, PROFIBUS, PROFISAFE
• I-Device, COM PROFIBUS – S5

IO-Link

• Hardware configuration & standard programming
• RFID integration for traceability and production tracking
• HMI control functions

Siemens Servo

• S7-specific functions & PROFIBUS connection
• Technology Objects (TO) programming
• Integrated Safety Technology
• L-Force development

Indradrive (Bosch Rexroth)

• S7 integration & PROFIBUS communication
• Master/Slave configuration
• Integrated safety functions
• DriveTop commissioning

Robotics

• KUKA: KRL programming, WorkVisual, SafeOperation, PLC integration
• Stäubli: VAL3 programming, SRS, CS9 controller configuration

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university (required)
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship
• 3–5 years in manufacturing automation with a proven track record of process improvement
• Hands-on experience with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma tools (SMED, 5S, VSM)
• Familiarity with machine safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061, NFPA 79)
• Able to read electrical schematics and technical drawings
• Comfortable working with production data and KPI reporting
• Willingness to travel to other Stabilus sites
• Fluent English; German is a plus

What We Offer

• Direct impact on production performance across a global manufacturing network
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Professional development and training
• International project exposure

Stabilus is an equal opportunity employer.