What are the responsibilities and job description for the PLC Controls Engineer – (Automation, Integration & Field Commissioning) position at Food Management Search?
PLC Controls Engineer – (Automation Systems, Robotic Integration & Field Commissioning)
$75,000–$110,000 · Junior, Mid & Senior openings · Greater Milwaukee, WI · A fast-growing custom automation integrator where every project is different — no repetitive work, no bureaucracy, and a comp time policy that actually gets enforced.
- Experience 2 years of PLC/HMI programming from scratch — Rockwell/Allen-Bradley required
- Comp $75,000–$110,000 | Junior, Mid & Senior levels available
- Travel 25–50% domestic — primary technical lead during on-site startups and robotic integrations
- Location Greater Milwaukee, WI — onsite; must reside within 45 minutes
- Type Full-time, direct hire | Health, dental, vision Simple IRA match
- Bonus Significant holiday bonus and profit sharing distributed annually
- Auth U.S. citizen or Green Card holder required — no sponsorship
This is a full-time, permanent opportunity with a custom controls integrator that has been doubling in size annually. The work here is deliberately non-repetitive — engineers move between robotic welding cells, conveyor sortation systems, servo-driven motion applications, and large-scale software integrations depending on what is in the queue. There is no single-product focus and no assembly line mentality. You write the code, you commission it in the field, and you see it run. The culture is built around trust and professional respect. When weekend travel is required to meet a production deadline, the company adds comp days immediately — you come back to a four-day weekend, not a Monday morning expectation to just absorb it. Engineers here are known by name, trusted to make technical decisions on-site, and given the kind of project variety that actually develops a career. If that environment sounds right, this role is worth a conversation.
What you will be doing
- Developing PLC and HMI programs from scratch for custom automation solutions — robotic cells, conveyor systems, and specialized test equipment
- Engineering operator interfaces using FactoryTalk, Visual Studio, and C# for advanced software integration
- Reading and editing electrical schematics in AutoCAD; ensuring panel designs meet BOM requirements and safety standards
- Implementing industrial networking and safety protocols — EtherNet/IP, servo motion, vision systems, and safety controllers (NEC/OSHA compliant)
- Serving as lead technical authority during on-site startups — traveling to customer facilities to oversee installation and final commissioning of custom machinery
What we are looking for
- 2 years of professional PLC programming — Rockwell/Allen-Bradley RS500/RS5000 required; must write from scratch, not modify existing code
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
- Stable work history — minimum three years of tenure at prior employers
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically 25–50% for system implementations
- U.S. citizen or Green Card holder residing within 45 minutes of the Greater Milwaukee area
Strong pluses (not required):
- Servo motion, motion controllers, or vision system experience
- C# or SQL database programming ability
- FANUC or robotic cell integration experience
Salary : $75,000 - $110,000