Company Summary
We are a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of high-quality sheet metal fabrication machinery. We offer one of the most complete lines of fabrication equipment you will find in the US. As a family-owned company, we emphasize precision, durability, long service life, and customer-focused solutions. With a proud legacy of craftsmanship, supportive culture, and many long-tenured employees (some 30–50+ years), the company values integrity, loyalty, collaboration, and flexibility in a close-knit environment.
Job Summary
The Senior Electrical Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supporting electrical control systems for sheet metal fabrication equipment and automated machinery. This role plays a critical part in enhancing machine performance, reliability, and innovation across our product lines, while providing controls support across all three company locations
Responsibilities
- Design and develop electrical control systems for metal fabrication machinery
- Program and maintain PLCs and operator interfaces (HMI)
- Develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts using SolidWorks Electrical or similar tools
- Specify components such as drives, motors, sensors, safety devices, and control panels
- Integrate motion control systems, including servo drives and positioning systems
- Support new product development and engineering improvements on existing equipment
- Lead machine startup, commissioning, and factory acceptance testing (FAT)
- Troubleshoot and resolve electrical/control issues in both production and field environments
- Collaborate with mechanical engineering, production, and service teams
- Ensure compliance with UL, CE, NEC, and NFPA standards
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers/technicians
- Interface with vendors, customers, service, sales, and external technical partners
- Support controls strategy across all three companies, help modernize systems, develop training for service teams, and gather customer feedback
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 7–10+ years of controls engineering experience in industrial machinery or OEM environments
- Strong experience with PLCs, drives, servo systems, motor controls, and VFDs
- Experience PLCs and drives
- HMI development experience
- Ability to design and interpret electrical schematics and panel layouts
- Hands-on troubleshooting experience with industrial equipment
- Senior-level profile capable of working independently with service, sales, vendors, and external partners
- Mechanical aptitude and strong problem-solving/diagnostic skills
- Cross-functional collaboration and project/time management abilities
- Willingness to travel occasionally
Preferred Requirements
- Experience in sheet metal fabrication equipment or the machine tool industry
- Familiarity with CNC controls or machine automation
- Knowledge of safety systems
- Experience with international standards
- Project leadership experience
- Hydraulics exposure
- Experience with the ECS control platform used on CNC folding systems
Compensation/Benefits
- Target salary range: $95,000 – $145,000
- Bonus: Project-based bonus is possible
- Benefits include 401(k) with safe harbor match, medical coverage, and extended benefits
Location
- Based a in Rockford, Illinois
- Not a remote position