Development Controls Engineer – System Performance Testing

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

• Own the design, development, documentation, debugging, deployment, and support of PLC, HMI, and controls software used for developmental conveyor equipment, conveyor test loops, prototype equipment, and test systems.
• Work closely with Test Engineers to translate equipment behavior, test objectives, and performance gaps into practical controls strategies and improvement concepts.
• Configure and integrate field devices such as VFDs, photoeyes, encoders, barcode scanners, sensors, actuators, solenoids, safety devices, alarms, I/O, cameras, and related automation hardware.
• Support rapid iteration in a development environment by adapting controls logic and system configurations as equipment concepts, test plans, and performance targets evolve.
• Contribute to control system architecture decisions for test loops and developmental equipment, with emphasis on modularity, repeatability, maintainability, and efficient troubleshooting.
• Partner with Test Engineers to improve test loop capability, standardize setup procedures, refine configuration workflows, and reduce cycle time across test operations.
• Take ownership of complex controls-related problems and drive them toward clear conclusions, corrective actions, or design recommendations.
• Serve as a technical bridge between R&D Controls Engineers, Test Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and other development stakeholders.
• Create clear documentation for controls logic, equipment setup, troubleshooting procedures, standard operating practices, and test-system configuration.
• Identify opportunities to increase testing efficiency through automation, data capture, diagnostics, visualization, and AI-assisted tools where appropriate.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of controls, automation, or industrial equipment development experience; significant hands-on industrial automation experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Strong PLC programming experience in an industrial automation environment, including comfort with ladder logic and structured text.