Control Engineer

About the Role

Pinnacle Partners is recruiting for an Automation Manager in Edinburgh, Indiana. This is a hands-on leadership position focused on developing, implementing, and maintaining automated manufacturing systems, with a primary focus on injection molding support systems, robotics, PLCs, conveyors, and automated material handling.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of four automation technicians and two engineers, supporting their technical development and day-to-day performance.


• Maintain an approximately 50/50 balance between hands-on technical work and leadership, planning, and administrative responsibilities.


• Program, troubleshoot, maintain, and optimize PLCs, robotics, vision systems, conveyors, end-of-arm tooling, and other automated manufacturing equipment.


• Develop, install, integrate, start up, and commission new automation systems and equipment.


• Support the integration of automation systems with injection molding machines and secondary manufacturing operations.


• Troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, robotic systems, sensors, pneumatic systems, and other controls-related equipment to minimize downtime.


• Lead root cause analysis of automation-related failures and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability.


• Support robot-to-machine integration and automated material handling systems, including conveyors and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).


• Evaluate, develop, and implement automation solutions that improve production efficiency, product quality, safety, and operational performance.


• Identify opportunities to automate existing manufacturing processes and improve equipment utilization.


• Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and other departments to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives.


• Support a major facility expansion and a significant customer-related automation initiative involving new equipment, production systems, and material handling.


• Help develop the automation department's structure, procedures, technical capabilities, and long-term strategy as the organization grows.


• Establish and manage preventive maintenance schedules for automation equipment and control systems.


• Maintain accurate documentation, PLC and HMI programs, robotic programs, system configurations, and program backups.


• Work with equipment vendors, automation integrators, and suppliers to evaluate technologies and implement effective technical solutions.


• Support equipment upgrades, capital improvement projects, and new automation installations from planning through implementation.


• Develop automation cost analyses, capital expenditure proposals, and return-on-investment (ROI) justifications.


• Ensure automated systems comply with applicable safety, quality, and environmental standards.


• Apply lean manufacturing principles and data-driven problem-solving techniques to improve processes and reduce waste.


• Provide technical guidance to team members and support the development of standardized troubleshooting and maintenance practices.


• Participate in rotating on-call responsibilities to support production and address urgent equipment issues.


• Perform additional automation engineering, technical leadership, and department development responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of hands-on industrial automation, controls engineering, or related experience in a manufacturing or industrial production environment.


• Strong experience programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining PLC-based automation systems.


• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and/or Siemens.


• Hands-on experience with industrial robotics, including FANUC, Universal Robots, or comparable robotic platforms.


• Experience integrating robots with manufacturing machines and automated production equipment.


• Understanding of automated material handling systems, including conveyors and AGVs.


• Experience with end-of-arm tooling, sensors, pneumatic systems, and related automation components.


• Proven experience leading, mentoring, supervising, or developing engineers and/or technicians.


• Ability to balance hands-on technical responsibilities with team leadership and management duties.


• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment, troubleshooting production issues, and minimizing unplanned downtime.


• Ability to lead automation projects involving equipment installation, integration, startup, and commissioning.


• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.


• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.


• Ability to collaborate effectively with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and external vendors.


• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.


• Willingness to work directly on the manufacturing floor and remain technically involved in automation projects.


• Ability to support a rotating on-call schedule.

Preferred:

• Experience with both Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms.


• Experience with FANUC and/or Universal Robots.


• Experience integrating vision inspection systems, machine vision technology, or automated quality testing equipment.


• Familiarity with Industry 4.0, industrial IoT, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing execution systems (MES).


• Experience with conveyor systems, automated material handling, AGVs, and warehouse automation.


• Familiarity with automated palletizing systems and other end-of-line automation equipment.


• Experience leading equipment installations, system integrations, startup, commissioning, and capital improvement projects.


• Previous experience leading a small automation, controls, or engineering team.


• Associate or bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline.


• Experience with CAD or industrial design software for tooling, fixtures, and automation equipment development.


• Experience in injection molding, plastics manufacturing, or supporting secondary operations.


• Experience developing preventive maintenance programs, standard operating procedures, and technical documentation.

Benefits Overview:

• Compensation of approximately $100,000–$120,000 annually


• Annual profit-sharing bonus


• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.


• Company-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.


• 401(k) eligibility after six months, with a 3% company contribution and an additional 1.4% annual contribution.


• Nine paid holidays.


• Company-provided uniforms, personal protective equipment (PPE), and tools.


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).


• Paid compensation for on-call responsibilities, with additional compensation for hours worked and driving time when called onsite.