Job Description
Job Overview:
Controls & Automation Engineer
Location: Lugoff, South Carolina
Salary: $85,000 – $95,000
Position: Full-Time | On-Site
The Opportunity
R12 Talent is recruiting a Controls & Automation Engineer for a manufacturing client in Lugoff, South Carolina.
This is a hands-on engineering position with a real opportunity to influence how automation is used across the facility. You'll work directly with existing production equipment to improve reliability and controls performance, while also developing upgrades and introducing new automation where it can improve safety, quality, and productivity.
The role covers the full spectrum of industrial automation, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, machine vision, drives, sensors, safety systems, and industrial communications.
This would be a great fit for an engineer who enjoys being on the plant floor, troubleshooting equipment, programming controls, and taking automation projects from an initial idea through to production.
What You'll Be Doing
Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robotics, machine vision, and automated equipment issues
Identify recurring controls problems and implement permanent improvements
Restore and improve existing automation that has become unreliable or dependent on manual workarounds
Develop and modify PLC and HMI programs
Work with ladder logic, structured text, function blocks, and other industrial programming methods
Develop machine sequences, operating modes, interlocks, alarms, diagnostics, and fault recovery logic
Integrate sensors, drives, HMIs, cameras, robots, cobots, and other automation hardware
Configure machine vision systems including cameras, lighting, triggers, recipes, tolerances, and inspection criteria
Program and integrate industrial robots and cobots
Support applications including robotic welding, machine tending, material handling, inspection, and fixture verification
Establish reliable communication between PLCs, robots, equipment, process controls, and safety systems
Improve machine safety through risk assessments and appropriate controls
Develop custom scripts, interfaces, or GUIs where standard automation software isn't sufficient
Evaluate whether existing equipment should be upgraded, redesigned, or replaced
Develop new automated equipment and cells from concept through commissioning
Support equipment installation, testing, debugging, and production launch
Coordinate external automation vendors and system integrators when required
Validate new equipment under real production conditions
Develop consistent controls standards for programming, hardware, HMIs, alarms, backups, and documentation
Maintain accurate source files, electrical documentation, schematics, and system backups
Train maintenance technicians and production personnel on new or modified equipment
What We're Looking For
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline
5+ years of relevant industrial controls or automation experience
Strong PLC and HMI programming experience
Hands-on plant-floor troubleshooting and commissioning experience
Experience integrating industrial robots or cobots
Knowledge of machine vision systems
Experience with drives, sensors, industrial communications, electrical controls, and pneumatics
Understanding of machine safety systems and industrial safety circuits
Ability to perform root cause analysis on complex equipment problems
Experience developing custom logic or interfaces using at least one programming or scripting language
Strong communication skills and the ability to work with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Quality, and external suppliers
Relevant Technology Experience
Experience with one or more of the following would be particularly valuable:
PLC & Controls
Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation
Siemens
Mitsubishi
AutomationDirect
Robotics
FANUC
ABB
Yaskawa / Motoman
OTC
Universal Robots
Other industrial robot or cobot platforms
Machine Vision
Cognex
KEYENCE
SICK
Experience automating equipment involving welding, brake presses, conveyors, paint/coating processes, motion control, fixtures, inspection, or material handling would also be beneficial.
The Type of Engineer We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who wants to own automation problems rather than simply keep existing systems running.
You might spend one day diagnosing a recurring PLC or robot fault, another improving an HMI and machine diagnostics, and another developing the controls for a new automated cell.
The successful engineer will be comfortable moving between troubleshooting, programming, electrical controls, robotics, machine vision, commissioning, and longer-term automation projects.
This is very much a hands-on position, so we're looking for someone who enjoys being around machinery and working directly with production and maintenance teams.
Working Environment
Fully on-site in Lugoff, South Carolina
Manufacturing and production environment
Primarily plant-based engineering position
Occasional after-hours or weekend support may be required for equipment issues, installations, or projects
Candidates must be comfortable working safely around industrial and automated equipment
Salary & Benefits
$85,000 – $95,000 per year, depending on experience.
Benefits include:
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) matching
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Life insurance
Paid time off
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This isn't a position where you'll be limited to maintaining somebody else's PLC programs.
You'll have the opportunity to improve existing automation, introduce new technology, develop controls standards, integrate robotics and vision systems, and design new automated solutions from the ground up.
For an engineer who enjoys seeing their work make a direct difference on the manufacturing floor, this offers a strong mix of hands-on troubleshooting and longer-term automation engineering.
