The Role
Leads electrical and controls design for custom drying and milling systems from concept through commissioning. Owns PLC architecture, HMI/SCADA development, panel design, schematics, I/O documentation, troubleshooting, customer engagement, commissioning, and startup. Collaborates with mechanical engineering, suppliers, operations, and customers while mentoring junior engineers and ensuring technical quality, documentation control, and project schedule commitments.
Summary Generated by Built In
Senior Controls Engineer – Grand Rapids, Michigan
DISHER is currently partnering with a leader in food stabilization in Grand Rapids, MI to fill their Senior Controls Engineer position. This role leads PLC, HMI, and panel design from concept through commissioning, working in close partnership with mechanical engineering to deliver fully integrated, reliable capital equipment.
What it's like to work here:
This small machine design company is committed to reducing waste and improving the planet through transforming underused resources into nutritious, profitable materials. They have a strong commitment to their company values: Selflessly Serve, Trail-Blaze, Direct Honesty, Never Settle, Work Hard Play Hard. All team members are driven by their desire to serve others and create a more sustainable way of living.
What you will get to do:
- Lead the electrical and controls design of custom drying and milling systems, from concept through commissioning.
- Serve as the technical owner of the company's control system architecture, including PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, and panel design.
- Develop and review electrical schematics, panel layouts, and I/O documentation to production-ready standards.
- Collaborate closely with mechanical engineering to ensure seamless integration between controls and mechanical systems.
- Provide technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle, including design reviews, risk assessments, and troubleshooting.
- Engage directly with customers and stakeholders to understand control requirements, present solutions, and support training on new systems.
- Lead or support panel build, on-site commissioning, and startup activities, including field troubleshooting as needed.
- Mentor junior controls engineers and review their programming and design work for technical soundness and code quality.
- Partner with Operations on documentation control and project schedule commitments within GTF's gate-based project process.
What will make you successful:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Controls/Automation Engineering, or a related field from an accredited university (or equivalent hands-on experience).
- Minimum of 8–10 years of experience designing and programming controls for custom industrial process systems and machines.
- Solid understanding of mechanical system design and how it integrates with controls architecture.
- Experience specifying and quoting controls hardware and integration work with suppliers.
- Advanced proficiency in PLC programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley / Rockwell, Siemens) and HMI/SCADA development.
- Strong understanding of electrical schematic development and industrial panel design.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a track record of delivering innovative, pragmatic controls solutions.
- High emotional intelligence, with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, vendors, and executive leadership.
- Experience specifying and quoting with suppliers.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls or automation engineering, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience
- 8–10 years of experience designing and programming controls for custom industrial process systems and machines
- Experience integrating controls architecture with mechanical system design
- Experience specifying and quoting controls hardware and integration work with suppliers
- Advanced proficiency in PLC programming, including Allen-Bradley/Rockwell or Siemens systems
- Experience developing HMI and SCADA systems
- Strong understanding of electrical schematic development and industrial panel design
- Strong problem-solving skills and experience delivering practical controls solutions
- Effective communication with customers, vendors, and executive leadership
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The Company
What We Do
DISHER is a professional engineering services and product development company. They provide innovation and design, product development, and manufacturing support services to Fortune 500 companies, suppliers, and independent inventors. Additionally, the company offers staffing and consulting services, helping clients across various industries including medical device, automotive, and aerospace turn ambitious projects into completed realities.
