Controls Engineer

Position open to US permanent residents only...

The Opportunity

StaffRight Associates is recruiting for a Controls Engineer to join a global leader in advanced battery separator materials. Based on-site in Johnson City, Tennessee, this role sits at the center of plant reliability, owning electrical controls, automation, and instrumentation across the site’s equipment, parts, manufacturing, and maintenance operations. You will measure and report on the indicators that define production health, including uptime, mean time between failures, and preventive maintenance performance. You will also be the go-to expert when controls-intensive systems need fast diagnosis, such as electron-beam/LFE units, tension control, winders and rewinders, and mixing and weighing lines. It’s an ideal next step for a Controls Engineer with deep Siemens controller experience who wants technically demanding work that directly shapes production performance.

What You’ll Do

• Track and report key equipment metrics (uptime, MTBF, and PM completion) for electrical, automation, Siemens controller, and instrumentation assets.
• Diagnose and resolve production issues on controls-critical systems alongside manufacturing teams, from E-Beam/LFE units to tension control, winding, and mixing/weighing lines.
• Develop roadmaps that keep critical process equipment current with the newest technologies from OEMs and competing suppliers.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives aimed at higher uptime, longer MTBF, and stronger equipment reliability overall.
• Build and propose the annual CAPEX project plan.
• Coach maintenance and manufacturing supervisors and technicians on prioritizing daily work, PM/TPM activities, and troubleshooting.
• Mentor the coordinator who runs the spare parts management system.
• Author preventive maintenance and calibration procedures, plus training materials, with special focus on commissioning new or upgraded equipment.
• Bridge plant operations and IT to resolve manufacturing network issues.
• Provide off-hours on-call support, including periodic weekend coverage.

What You Bring

Required

• A Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Electronic Engineering
• 1–5 years of relevant experience
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office
• Hands-on Instrumentation and Industrial Automation maintenance experience in a high-volume, fast-paced plant, troubleshooting side by side with production and maintenance staff
• Familiarity with Lean Techniques and Structured Quality Systems
• Working knowledge of Siemens PLC systems, with the ability to install, program, troubleshoot, and tune AC/DC/VFD Motor Drives and single- and multi-loop Siemens Controllers
• Command of Ladder Logic and P&ID diagrams for automating motors on extruders, pumps for melt and liquid, Load Cells, temperature, pressure, and level controllers, and controllers for tension winding and unwinding
• Background in Extrusion or Injection Molding production and/or Web Handling and transport, Linear Tension Control Systems, and general Instrumentation Calibration
• Ability to read, edit, and interpret electrical, instrumentation, and automation documentation: Schematics, Wiring Diagrams, P&IDs, process loop drawings, logic diagrams, installation details, mechanical prints, and specification sheets
• HMI Programming experience with WinCC, Wonderware, or comparable Data Historians and loggers
• PLC Programming skills on Siemens platforms (required)
• Industrial networking expertise across ProfiNet, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and TCP/IP
• A track record of writing creative, effective maintenance and calibration procedures
• Ability to pinpoint, procure, and manage stock of critical spare parts
• Availability for emergency on-call response, off-hours support, and some weekend work
• English proficiency
• Visa sponsorship is not available

Preferred

• PLC experience with Automation Direct, Allen-Bradley, or Mitsubishi

Compensation & Total Rewards

• Salary: $95,000–$110,000 USD
• Bonus eligible
• Engagement: Full-time, direct hire; on-site in Johnson City, TN
• Relocation assistance is not provided

Joining StaffRight Associates

When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you’re doing more than pursuing a job, you’re aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.