Commissioning & Service Engineer (PLC/HMI)

Location: Plainfield, IL
Travel: Project-based (as needed) / approx. 50%

About the Company

The company is the U.S. subsidiary of a globally established industrial technology group, specializing in highly engineered manufacturing solutions for demanding industrial and research applications. The company supports customers in industries where precision, reliability, and process stability are critical - such as aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy. The U.S. team is based in the greater Chicago area and works closely with international engineering and project teams to support commissioning, service, training, and customer-facing technical support across North America.

About the Role

As the company continues to expand its installed base in North America, the U.S. organization is strengthening its hands-on technical capabilities in commissioning, troubleshooting, and customer-facing system support.

This role is not a classic PLC programming position and not a reactive, 24/7 service “firefighting” job. Instead, it focuses on commissioning, system-level troubleshooting, and technical support of custom-built industrial equipment that is engineered and programmed by the company's global engineering teams.

Engineers in this role work closely with customers, U.S.-based operations, and international engineering teams to analyze machine behavior, stabilize processes, and ensure reliable system performance in real production environments. While independence is expected after onboarding, new hires are supported through structured training, mentoring, and joint customer deployments, ensuring a smooth transition into the role without being sent alone to customer sites.

The position offers a balanced mix of planned commissioning projects, technical problem-solving, and customer interaction, making it ideal for engineers who enjoy understanding machines end-to-end rather than focusing solely on software development or emergency service response.

Key Responsibilities

• Support machine commissioning and start-up, both internally and at customer sites

• Troubleshoot automation issues during commissioning and in service cases

• Support targeted PLC adjustments as needed (Siemens / TIA Portal preferred; other PLC platforms considered)

• Support and adjust HMI screens/visualization for machine operation as required

• Support customer training on different levels, from operators to advanced users

• Act as a technical interface between customers, engineering, manufacturing, and service teams

• Contribute to technical documentation and support during proposal and quoting phases

• Support automation-related improvements throughout the machine lifecycle

What the Company is Looking For

• Technical background in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field

• 3+ years of relevant experience in commissioning, automation, controls, or industrial machinery environments

• Hands-on PLC experience required; Siemens TIA Portal strongly preferred

• Basic to intermediate familiarity with HMI systems and visualization

• Practical experience with industrial automation environments

• Strong troubleshooting skills and interest in machine start-up and optimization

• Willingness to travel for customer projects and commissioning assignments (project-based)

• Customer-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in interdisciplinary teams

Why Join the Client Company

• Join a company culture built on employee involvement, standards & lean processes, quality from the start, and short lead times

• Hourly Rate: $32 - $40 (overtime paid at 1.5x after 40 hours weekly hours)

• Additional variable compensation

• PTO: 20 days

• 401(k) with company match (first 4%)

• Health insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield (single or family package available, incl. dental)

• Car allowance