What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Controls Engineer position at Axis Automation?
Senior Controls Engineer
Position Overview: The Senior Controls Engineer is a high-impact individual contributor who designs, programs, commissions, debugs, and deploys complex automation systems while informally mentoring junior engineers. A senior CE is capable of executing a project independently throughout the entire project life cycle. The role serves as a technical cornerstone on multi-million-dollar projects, owning electrical design, PLC/HMI/robot code, motion solutions, and safety compliance. This position reports directly to the Director of Engineering.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develops PLC (ladder/structured text), HMI, simulations, and robot programs that meet cycle-time, quality, and safety targets.
- Simultaneously supports several projects that may be in different phases (design, build, debug, runoff) while maintaining task clarity and responsiveness.
- Drives assigned project segments from concept through runoff; maintains task lists, adheres to budgets, and supports on-site startup.
- Applies department coding/electrical standards and proposes incremental improvements for review by Technical Leads.
- Coaches Level 1-3 engineers during code reviews and debug, mentors interns and co‑ops on best practices, training, and overall workload, and delivers "lunch-and-learn" sessions as requested.
- Interfaces with Mechanical, Build, Electrical, and Project Management teams to align scope and resolve integration issues.
- Leads root-cause analysis on complex debug issues, escalating issues as needed.
- Presents technical details to customers, clarifies specifications, and works with vendors on component selection.
- Willing to travel approximately 10% - 20%.
- Champion Our Operating Principles: You will be expected to actively embody and uphold our ten Operating Principles, which guide our every action and decision at Axis Automation. These principles are key to our culture and success.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, or related engineering field preferred.
Experience: 5 years in controls/automation, with multiple full-project life-cycles delivered.
Technical Skills:
- High-level competency in electrical and pneumatic schematics and safety-circuit design.
- Advanced proficiency in PLC ladder logic, structured text, and program execution.
- Solid robot programming across at least one major OEM; able to adjust paths and optimize cycle time.
- Builds and applies cell simulations to check collision risks, estimate cycle times, and correlate results with shop-floor performance.
- Competent with motion control (VFDs, servos, auxiliary robot axes).
- Able to validate hard-wired and programmable safety to RIA/ANSI standards.
- Experienced in HMI design across common environments (e.g., FactoryTalk View, Ignition).
Leadership: Provides informal leadership through mentoring, code reviews, and example-setting; may act as technical lead on small project teams.
Communication: Excellent communicator with project teams, cross-functional stakeholders, customers, suppliers, and junior engineers, translating technical details into clear, actionable information.
Problem-Solving: Recognized "go-to" troubleshooter in wiring, controls theory, program execution, and robotics; leverages data to drive solutions.
Teamwork: Sets the tone for collaboration—shares knowledge freely, steps in during crunch periods, and reinforces a culture of mutual support.
Reliability: Consistently meets deadlines, delivers thorough hand-offs, and upholds quality & safety standards without close supervision.
Estimated Total Compensation: $100,000-$125,000
Benefits: Axis offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees with immediate eligibility upon hire.