Industrial Controls Engineer - Paint & Finishing Systems

Industrial Controls Engineer - Paint & Finishing Systems

Location: Greenwood, IN / Gallatin, TN

Schedule: TBD

Salary Range: Negotiable

Travel: Minimum 40–50%, with periods of higher travel during installation, startup, and shutdown activities

About the Opportunity

A growing engineered systems group is seeking an Industrial Controls Engineer to support the startup, commissioning, testing, validation, and optimization of complex automated finishing and manufacturing systems.

This role is ideal for a hands-on controls professional with experience working in industrial manufacturing environments, particularly paint shops or automated finishing operations. You’ll work directly with PLCs, HMIs, drives, industrial networks, instrumentation, and process equipment to bring new systems online and ensure they operate safely, reliably, and efficiently.

The position requires significant field involvement and travel to customer facilities throughout commissioning and startup phases.

What You'll Do

• Plan, execute, and document controls commissioning activities for industrial paint and manufacturing systems
• Design controls solutions from scratch and troubleshoot and optimize PLC, HMI, VFD, servo, and networked control systems
• Support installation, debugging, startup, and final system validation
• Commission controls for paint process equipment, material handling systems, dispense systems, and supporting utilities
• Verify control panel wiring, I/O, safety circuits, instrumentation, sensors, and other field devices
• Conduct loop checks, functional testing, interlock verification, alarm validation, and system acceptance testing
• Support SCADA, data collection, and line-tracking interfaces where applicable
• Troubleshoot motors, sensors, valves, instrumentation, drives, and industrial process controls
• Create and maintain commissioning reports, punch lists, backups, as-built documentation, and operating procedures
• Ensure work complies with customer safety requirements, lockout/tagout procedures, and applicable electrical and machinery standards
• Provide technical support and training to operations and maintenance teams following system handoff
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams, contractors, maintenance personnel, and customer operations teams during commissioning

What You Bring

• Technical college degree with 5–7 years of relevant experience, or 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, commissioning, startup, or industrial automation within manufacturing environments
• Strong proficiency with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC platforms
• Ability to design, troubleshoot, and modify PLC and HMI controls systems
• Experience with HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, servo systems, industrial networks, and automated equipment
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, I/O lists, and control narratives
• Strong understanding of motors, sensors, valves, instrumentation, safety devices, and industrial process controls
• Experience with commissioning workflows, FAT/SAT activities, functional testing, and structured startup documentation
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills in active manufacturing environments
• Willingness and ability to travel a minimum of 40–50%, with periods of higher travel
• Ability to work extended hours when required during installations, shutdowns, and system startups
• Direct experience with industrial paint systems, paint shop equipment, or automated finishing processes is strongly preferred
• Experience commissioning paint booth controls, conveyor systems, curing ovens, air supply systems, or fluid delivery equipment is preferred
• Familiarity with process control loops involving temperature, pressure, airflow, and fluid flow is preferred
• Exposure to robotics, reciprocators, or automated paint applicator systems is a plus
• Siemens or Mitsubishi PLC experience is a plus
• Familiarity with NFPA 79, NEC, UL508A, lockout/tagout, and machine safety requirements is preferred

What's Offered

• Full-time opportunity supporting complex industrial automation and engineered systems projects
• Hands-on involvement with controls commissioning, system startup, and advanced manufacturing equipment
• Opportunity to work across industrial paint, finishing, material handling, and automated manufacturing systems