Lead Controls & Automation Engineer

Drive Automation. Lead Critical Plant Systems. Make an Immediate Impact.

• Location: Holcomb, KS (Onsite)

• Schedule: Monday-Friday | 1st Shift (6:00 AM-4:00 PM) or 2nd Shift (3:00 PM-12:00 AM)

• Pay Rate: $90-$150/hour (based on experience)

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a Lead Controls & Automation Engineer to support a leading manufacturing operation in Holcomb, KS. This is a high-impact role for an experienced controls professional who thrives in fast-paced production environments and enjoys solving complex automation challenges.

You'll serve as a technical leader responsible for PLCs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, vision systems, and plant-floor automation. This role offers the opportunity to influence critical operations, drive modernization projects, and improve equipment reliability across a large-scale manufacturing facility.

What You'll Do

• Lead troubleshooting, programming, commissioning, and optimization of industrial control systems.

• Support and improve PLC-based automation platforms, including both legacy and modern control systems.

• Diagnose and resolve issues involving PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, drives, scanners, and field devices.

• Support automated production and material-handling systems including conveyors, motors, VFDs, sensors, photo eyes, and control sequencing.

• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot SCADA/HMI platforms including Ignition and iFIX.

• Support industrial barcode, scanning, and vision systems, including technologies such as Cognex, Keyence, and SICK.

• Perform root-cause analysis and implement long-term corrective actions to improve uptime and reliability.

• Assist with controls upgrades, modernization initiatives, and capital projects.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT teams to deliver effective automation solutions.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation, standards, and best practices.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field. Equivalent experience will be considered.

• 5+ years of controls engineering, automation engineering, or industrial controls experience.

• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric/Modicon, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.

• Experience with SCADA and HMI systems.

• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, OPC-UA, or Profinet.

• Experience troubleshooting automated production equipment and material-handling systems.

• Strong problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Schneider Electric/Modicon PLCs.

• Experience with Ignition and/or iFIX SCADA platforms.

• Experience supporting conveyor and material-handling systems.

• Experience with Cognex, Keyence, or SICK vision and scanning technologies.

• SQL database experience.

• Experience leading controls or automation projects from concept through startup.

• Food manufacturing, distribution, logistics, or heavy industrial experience.

Why Join Us

• Play a key role in supporting and improving mission-critical manufacturing operations.

• Work on challenging automation, controls, and modernization projects.

• Gain exposure to advanced PLC, SCADA, vision, and industrial network technologies.

• Collaborate with a highly skilled engineering and operations team.

• Opportunity to make a measurable impact on plant performance, reliability, and continuous improvement.

• Competitive compensation based on experience and expertise.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're a hands-on Controls & Automation Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, improving plant performance, and leading critical automation initiatives, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today and bring your controls expertise to a role where your impact will be seen every day.

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• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.