Controls Engineer (1st shift Shelby Township)

Objective and Scope of Position

Objective:  The Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supervising all aspects of the plant electrical control systems, equipment, and machinery. Responsible for the installation and technical support of PLC-based hardware and software. The goal is to ensure that the plant is running smoothly and efficiently while also meeting quality and safety standards. The Controls Engineer design, implement and maintain processes that help manufacturers increase productivity.

Scope:  Writes and improves control programs to support operations achieving required cycle times, down time in a safe operations mode. Works with internal and external resources to understand all requirements to ensure all project needs are met. Develops suggestions for improvements, assembles cost and timing information for projects. Implements changes and improvement following the change management system. The scope of equipment includes CNC machines, Robots, Transfer systems, stamping presses, assembly equipment, welding cells and other machinery and support structure.

Responsibilities, Duties & Authorities

1. Responsible to plan and execute new installations, upgrades and continuous improvements with internal and external resources to support our business goals and objectives.
2. Reads, modifies, and troubleshoots PLC programs (Allen-Bradley and Siemens preferred) using laptop computer.
3. Work with Manufacturing and/or Quality to solve customer Quality issues
4. Analyze plant processes and help make improvements based on extensive knowledge of electronics, engineering, and mechanics.
5. Proactively develops improvement suggestions to improve plant performance, equipment reliability and uptime
6. Creates programs to minimize and limit down time.
7. Ensures that error proofing devices are programmed to be checked real time and processes are stopped when malfunctions are detected.
8. Ensures that all sensors, processes and relevant parameters are checked in real time to ensure process compliance and processes are stopped when malfunctions are detected.
9. Writes programs in a manner that has sufficient information and is available to the operators so trouble shooting can be done by operators.
10. Writes programs in a manner that the process capabilities are maximize and equipment wear and tear is kept to a minimum possible.
11. Supporting implementation of Factory 4.0.
12. Create, verify, and maintain electrical control schematics and program documentation.
13. Create and maintain backup programs for all programs and software in both locations to prevent loss.
14. Design, develop and improve new machine controls including CNC, robotics, transfer systems, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic, and vision systems.
15. Responsible to trouble shoot equipment and facility problems as they arise.
16. Support in defining of Statement of Requirements, specifications and standards in respect to controls and programming portion for new and modified equipment.
17. Assists in creation of and performs preventative and predictive maintenance activities as assigned.
18. Repair of equipment as needed.
19. Develop a Maintenance program for control systems, programs and perform maintenance.
20. Continually improve the PM program for control systems.
21. Demonstrated ability to carry out projects from beginning to end in coordination with internal and external resources

Education &/or Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology certification or 5 plus years of equivalent experience and education. Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the automotive manufacturing environment. Must have strong knowledge of PLC’s (Allen Bradley and Siemens). Knowledge of robotics (ABB and Fanuc) preferred. Experience of HMI programming including but not limited to: RS Logic Suite, FTView, and Siemens Programming Suite required. Must have knowledge of various networks such as Ethernet/IP, DH+, RIO, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and RS232. Must be able to interpret and design electrical schematics. Must be continuous improvement minded and must understand the “7 wastes” to write effective programs. Must have ability to multitask. Must be adaptable, striving to find creative solutions to problems as they arise. Working knowledge of OmniLinks and Wintress preferred.

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

Language Skills:  Ability to read and comprehend instructions in English and correspondence such as safety rules and operating instructions.  Ability to document forms as required by position.
Mathematical Skills:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.
Computer Skills:  To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of AS400. Proficiency of Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Mechanical Skills: Must be comfortable with running and trouble-shooting machinery or has shown aptitude working on electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Reasoning Skills:  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Problem Solving Skills:  Is able to conduct individually or in team settings structured problem solving. Understands and can apply 5 Why mythology, Skillful in analysis of problems, research to identify root causes and find solutions, creativity to find robust and effective solutions to problems.  Able to make decisions based on available information. Has sufficient technical knowledge to support effective problem solving.
Communication Skills:  Active listening, Assertive communication, Has sufficient level of emotional intelligence.

Awareness. Unity. Empowerment.

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.