Controls Engineer – Final Assembly Cell
Location: Holland, MI (Installation at Customer Facility in Walker, MI)
Employment Type: Contract
Industry: Industrial Automation / Machine Tool Manufacturing
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to join a build team supporting the development and commissioning of a custom final assembly cell in Holland, MI. This is a hands-on technical role where you will be directly involved in offline programming, system debug, and on-site installation at the customer's facility in Walker, MI. You will work as part of a collaborative engineering team while being self-sufficient in your day-to-day tasks and taking direction from a project lead.
The machine being built consists of Allen-Bradley PLC/HMI, pneumatics, servo gantry and dispense equipment, Keyence vision systems, IR heater control, Fanuc robots, and pallet and tray conveyor systems.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute offline PLC and robot programs for a custom final assembly cell
- Program and configure Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI systems using Studio 5000 and FactoryTalk View
- Program and troubleshoot Fanuc robotic systems including TCP setup, path programming, and fault recovery
- Integrate and configure Keyence vision systems within the automation cell
- Support servo gantry motion control programming and tuning
- Debug and validate all systems prior to and during installation
- Travel to and support on-site installation and commissioning at the customer facility in Walker, MI
- Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and controls-related issues during build and install phases
- Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and project engineering teams to resolve technical issues
- Participate in daily project meetings and communicate progress and concerns to the project lead
- Maintain accurate documentation throughout the build and commissioning process
Work Schedule
- Standard hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Expect 45–50 hours/week during build phase
- Ramp up to approximately 60 hours/week during installation
Required Qualifications
- 3–5 years of controls engineering experience in an industrial automation or machine tool environment
- Allen-Bradley PLC/HMI experience(Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000, FactoryTalk View)
- Fanuc Robot experience
- Ability to work independently and be self-sufficient while taking direction from a project lead
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Comfortable working hands-on with PLCs, robotic arms, and automation equipment daily
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Keyence vision system integration
- Servo motion control experience
- Familiarity with pneumatic systems and dispense equipment
- Experience supporting machine builds from offline programming through on-site installation and customer buy-off
- Strong understanding of conveyor systems — pallet and tray configurations
Skills Required
- 3-5 years of controls engineering experience in an industrial automation or machine tool environment
- Allen-Bradley PLC/HMI experience (Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000, FactoryTalk View)
- Fanuc robot programming and troubleshooting experience
- Ability to work independently and be self-sufficient while taking direction from a project lead
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Comfortable working hands-on with PLCs, robotic arms, and automation equipment daily
- Experience with Keyence vision system integration
- Servo motion control programming and tuning experience
- Familiarity with pneumatic systems and dispense equipment
- Experience supporting machine builds from offline programming through on-site installation and customer buy-off
- Strong understanding of conveyor systems (pallet and tray configurations)
What We Do
GABLETEK understands productivity and efficiency play key roles in an efficient production environment. It is a prerequisite for company’s today to think outside the box and be ahead of the pack when it comes to increasing productivity and efficiency while keeping costs down. In a complex world with competing demands for limited resources, GABLETEK offers clear and proven solutions made possible with sound design methods, innovation and industry leading approaches.
