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About the job

Senior Automation Engineer – Industrial Machinery / Controls Software

Industrial Automation Engineer / Senior Controls Engineer / Automation Software Engineer

Architect the Next Generation of Industrial Machine Controls

Are you a hands-on automation engineer who enjoys developing sophisticated controls software and seeing it perform on real industrial machinery?

My client, a long-established, privately held industrial equipment manufacturer in Chicago, is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to help architect and implement its next generation of controls technology. You will modernize legacy machine-control platforms, establish a forward-looking automation architecture, and help position the company for continued success.

This is a software-first, hands-on role for an engineer who wants technical ownership and visible impact. You will write and debug code while working directly with machinery on the factory floor to test controls, troubleshoot performance, and bring new solutions to life.

Why You Should Apply

$100,000–$125,000+ base salary depending on background and experience

401K plan with 3.5% safe harbor contribution

Opportunity to architect and help implement a new controls platform

Lead the modernization of legacy industrial machinery and controls systems

Work with B&R Automation Studio and Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Combine controls software development with hands-on machine testing and troubleshooting

Join a highly stable, long-established, privately held manufacturer

Engineering environment offering broad technical influence, variety, and ownership

100% on-site position in Chicago

Position Summary

The Senior Automation Engineer will develop, implement, and modernize control, HMI, communications, and automation systems across the company’s industrial equipment lines. A major focus will be transitioning legacy machine controls to a modern architecture using B&R Industrial Automation and/or Beckhoff technologies.

This is not a desk-only position. You will work directly with equipment during development, testing, debugging, troubleshooting, and implementation while helping establish controls practices that improve machine performance, commissioning, maintainability, and future development.

What You’ll Do

Architect and develop a scalable, reusable controls platform for deployment across multiple industrial machine families, including software architecture, common libraries, HMI standards, diagnostics, communications, and motion-control strategies.

Modernize and replace legacy controls architecture across existing equipment platforms

Write, test, debug, and maintain machine-control software and HMI applications using Structured Text

Develop solutions using B&R Automation Studio and/or Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Test software directly on machinery and troubleshoot controls and machine behavior

Integrate motion-control technologies including servos, VFDs, actuators, pneumatics, and industrial I/O

Support industrial networking, machine communications, data acquisition, and equipment connectivity

Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, technicians, and company leadership

Help make equipment easier to manufacture, commission, troubleshoot, and support

What You’ll Bring

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred or 10-15 years of relevant OEM controls experience

5+ years of industrial automation, controls engineering, or automation software experience

Strong hands-on experience developing machine controls using Structured Text on a modern IEC 61131-3 platform

Experience with B&R Automation Studio or Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 strongly preferred.

Experience programming, troubleshooting, or commissioning industrial automation systems

Strong understanding of PLC controls, industrial automation, machine communications, and motion control

Practical electrical knowledge and ability to read electrical schematics

Strong mechanical aptitude and willingness to work hands-on with machinery

Strong troubleshooting, debugging, problem-solving, and communication skills

Preferred:

C programming experience

Automated industrial machinery or OEM equipment experience

Industrial networking, SCADA, machine data acquisition, or equipment connectivity experience

Experience with Git, Jira, electrical controls, panel design, electronics, or hardware troubleshooting

Work Environment

This is a 100% on-site position in Chicago, Illinois. The right engineer will enjoy moving between software development and the manufacturing floor and wants the opportunity to shape a new automation foundation rather than simply maintain an existing controls system.

How To Apply

We’d love to see your resume, but we don’t need it to have a conversation. Send us an email to crusnak@mworkssearch.com and tell us why you’re interested. Or, if you do have a resume ready, apply here.