Controls Support Engineer – Baggage Handling System (BHS)
Job purpose statement
• Mid to high level technical expert for PLC and Low-Level Control (LLC) infrastructure of the Baggage Handling System.
• Ensure reliable operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization of PLC-controlled BHS equipment and associated control systems.
• Provide technical support for PLCs, field devices, safety systems control interfaces control-related faults, modifications, testing, and performance issues.
• Support the Maintenance Manager in maintaining system availability, reliability and contractual service requirements.
• Act as a technical focal point for PLC/control-related faults, modifications, testing, and performance issues.
• Support continuous improvement and professionalization of site-based BHS control and maintenance services.
Scope
• First-line and advanced technical support for BHS Low-Level Controls, PLC systems, remote I/O, industrial networks, drives, scanners, sensors and associated field equipment.
• Diagnosis, analysis and restoration of PLC/control incidents affecting BHS operations.
• Technical support for preventive, corrective, breakdown and emergency maintenance activities related to BHS controls.
• Coordination of technical incidents with Senior Controls Support Engineer, Maintenance Manager, OEM specialists and Global Service Desk when required.
• Monitor PLC/control-system health, communication status, alarms, recurring faults and overall performance.
• Support contingency procedures, recovery trials, shutdown/start-up activities and crisis recovery exercises.
Qualification and abilities
• Bachelor’s degree / Diploma in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Automation, Mechatronics, Control Engineering or equivalent technical qualification.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in PLC/automation system and preferably 5 years of experience in Baggage Handling Systems.
• Strong practical knowledge of PLC programming, diagnostics and troubleshooting; Siemens S7 / TIA Portal experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Low-Level Controls (LLC), control panels, remote I/O systems, industrial field devices and control architecture.
• Good knowledge of industrial communication networks such as PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP/IP.
• Experience with VFDs, motor control, encoders, sensors, scanners, photoelectric devices and safety-related equipment.
• Ability to read and understand electrical drawings, control schematics, network diagrams, I/O lists, functional descriptions and PLC logic.
• Knowledge of SCADA/HMI systems and their interface with PLC-controlled equipment.
• Basic understanding of server/client architecture, networking, virtualization and IT infrastructure associated with BHS controls is preferred.
• Good English verbal and written communication skills and ability to work independently within multidisciplinary teams.
• Good understanding of safe working practices, permit-to-work requirements and electrical/control-system safety procedures.
Responsibilities
• Diagnose PLC, control-system, communication and field-device faults and restore equipment within agreed response and resolution targets.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for recurring or critical BHS control-system failures and recommend permanent corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot PLC hardware/software, I/O modules, communication interfaces, industrial networks, drives, sensors, actuators and safety circuits.
• Monitor PLC alarms, diagnostic buffers, communication faults, system logs and equipment status to identify potential failures.
• Perform PLC backup, program verification, comparison, restoration and controlled software modifications as authorized.
• Ensure PLC program changes and configuration modifications follow approved change-management procedures.
• Support preventive maintenance and health checks of PLC panels, control cabinets, industrial network devices, remote I/O and related equipment.
• Support breakdown, corrective and emergency maintenance during operational disruptions.
• Coordinate technical incidents with Controls Support Engineer, IT Engineer, OEM and Global Service Desk where higher-level support is required.
• Support testing and validation of contingency modes, recovery procedures, failover scenarios and operational recovery plans.
• Maintain updated backups of PLC programs, configurations, parameters, network settings and related technical documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and on-the-job support to maintenance technicians regarding PLC/control troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with site safety, cybersecurity, configuration-management and maintenance procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve system reliability, availability, maintainability and operational performance.
List of key activities
• Execution of daily PLC and control-system maintenance activities.
• Daily/weekly inspections and health checks of PLC and LLC systems.
• Review PLC diagnostics, communication status, alarms and system performance.
• Troubleshooting and fault-finding during BHS equipment failures.
• Attend and resolve PLC-related breakdown calls.
• Check PLC-to-PLC, PLC-to-SCADA/HMI and PLC-to-field-device communication.
• Perform PLC program backups and configuration verification as per approved schedules.
• Support preventive and corrective maintenance of control panels and field devices.
• Support replacement/configuration of PLC CPUs, communication modules, I/O modules, network switches, drives and associated equipment.
• Participate in planned shutdowns, system restart activities, testing, commissioning and operational trials.
• Support major incident coordination and provide timely technical updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in RCA and preparation of corrective/preventive action plans.
• Monitor repeated faults and identify opportunities for permanent technical improvements.
• Coordinate with Operations, IT, Maintenance, OEM specialists and Global Service Desk.
• Maintain PLC-related maintenance records, fault reports, backup records and change documentation.
• Contribute to weekly, monthly and quarterly reports covering system failures, recurring faults, availability and improvement activities.
• Support training and knowledge transfer to maintenance technicians and other site personnel.
Work pattern
Differentiator
• Advanced troubleshooting capability for complex PLC and Low-Level Control faults affecting BHS availability.
• Ability to understand the complete control chain from PLC logic through industrial networks to field devices and mechanical equipment.
• Ability to identify root causes of repetitive faults rather than only restoring equipment temporarily.
• Effective coordination between Controls, IT, Operations, Maintenance, OEM and client teams.
• Development and implementation of improvements in PLC programs, diagnostics, maintenance methods, tools and system reliability.
• Strong focus on preventive actions, lifecycle management and continuous improvement.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or diploma in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Automation, Mechatronics, Control Engineering, or an equivalent technical qualification
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience with PLC or automation systems
- Strong practical knowledge of PLC programming, diagnostics, and troubleshooting
- Strong knowledge of low-level controls, control panels, remote I/O systems, industrial field devices, and control architecture
- Knowledge of industrial communication networks, including PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP, and Modbus TCP/IP
- Experience with VFDs, motor control, encoders, sensors, scanners, photoelectric devices, and safety-related equipment
- Ability to interpret electrical drawings, control schematics, network diagrams, I/O lists, functional descriptions, and PLC logic
- Knowledge of SCADA/HMI systems and their interfaces with PLC-controlled equipment
- Good English verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently within multidisciplinary teams
- Understanding of safe working practices, permit-to-work requirements, and electrical/control-system safety procedures
- At least 5 years of experience in baggage handling systems
- Siemens S7 and TIA Portal experience
- Understanding of server/client architecture, networking, virtualization, and associated IT infrastructure
Vanderlande Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vanderlande and has not been reviewed or approved by Vanderlande.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, with day‑one eligibility in many U.S. roles and employer‑paid protections that reduce out‑of‑pocket exposure. Feedback suggests medical, dental, and vision are a clear strength.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include a 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting in the U.S. Feedback suggests this forms a solid pillar of the total rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, sick leave, and paid holidays are characterized as generous relative to peers. Compressed workweek options in some roles further support time away and recovery.
Vanderlande Insights
What We Do
Vanderlande is the global market leader for future-proof logistic process automation at airports. The company is also a leading supplier of process automation solutions for warehouses and in the parcel market. Vanderlande’s baggage handling systems are capable of moving over 4 billion pieces of baggage around the world per year. Its systems are active in more than 600 airports including 12 of the world’s top 20. More than 52 million parcels are sorted by its systems every day, which have been installed for the world’s leading parcel companies. In addition, many of the largest global e-commerce players and retailers have confidence in Vanderlande’s efficient and reliable solutions. The company focuses on the optimisation of its customers’ business processes and competitive positions. Through close cooperation, it strives for the improvement of their operational activities and the expansion of their logistical achievements. Vanderlande’s extensive portfolio of integrated solutions – innovative systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services – results in the realisation of fast, reliable and efficient automation technology. Established in 1949, Vanderlande has more than 7,500 employees, all committed to moving its customers’ businesses forward at diverse locations on every continent. With a consistently increasing turnover of 1.8 billion euros, it has established a global reputation over the past seven decades as a highly reliable partner for future-proof logistic process automation. Vanderlande was acquired in 2017 by Toyota Industries Corporation, which will help it to continue its sustainable profitable growth. The two companies have a strong strategic match, and the synergies include cross-selling, product innovations, and research and development.
