Senior/Staff Controls Engineer

Location: Manteno, IL | On-site

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior/Staff PLC/Controls Engineer to take ownership of automation and control systems for our Pack & Module production line at Gotion’s Manteno facility. This role will lead troubleshooting, stabilization, and optimization of production equipment, while also mentoring existing Controls Engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive throughput and yield improvements.

This is a hands-on role requiring strong problem-solving skills, deep PLC expertise, and proven manufacturing floor experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead troubleshooting and optimization of PLC, HMI, motion control, and industrial networking systems across the production line.

• Diagnose chronic automation issues impacting throughput, yield, and process stability; develop and execute permanent corrective actions.

• Reprogram, tune, and standardize PLC logic (primarily Siemens S7-1500 / TIA Portal, plus some Omron).

• Improve and maintain equipment documentation, parameter settings, software version control, and backup libraries.

• Collaborate with Process, Quality, and Maintenance teams to drive continuous improvement.

• Lead controls-related Root Cause Analysis (RCA), FMEA, DOE activities.

• Provide technical leadership and knowledge transfer to internal Controls Engineers and Technicians; coach and elevate team capability.

• Support new equipment integration, commissioning, and upgrades.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Automation/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent experience.

• 8+ years of PLC/Controls experience in a manufacturing environment (assembly / automated production / automotive / battery industry preferred).

• Expert-level Siemens PLC programming (TIA Portal / S7-1500).

• Experience with industrial communication protocols (Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus).

• Strong troubleshooting and electrical diagnostic ability; able to solve system-level issues independently.

• Able to work onsite full-time in a fast-paced production environment.

Preferred

• Experience with Omron PLC.

• Robotics and machine vision integration experience.

• Experience stabilizing production lines during ramp-up.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package

• Opportunity to lead automation strategy during rapid scale-up

The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $120,000 –$160,000, plus eligibility for bonus and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by factors such as the role, level, and geographic location. The range listed in the job posting represents the minimum and maximum target salaries for this position across all U.S. locations. Actual compensation within the range will be influenced by the specific work location, along with factors such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter will provide more details about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the listed compensation reflects the base salary only and does not include bonus or benefits.