Professional Controls Project Engineer (Level 3)

A dedicated Controls project engineer to join our team and provide controls solutions.

The Professional Controls Project Engineer is responsible for leading controls design engineering execution and commissioning for Dematic material handling projects from post-sale project handoff (Sales) through site commissioning, go-live, site support, standby support and project turnover. As part of the Project Engineering organization, this role leads assigned projects, project areas, or major controls work packages, including control area definition, device layout, engineering documentation, BOMs, order entry, PLC/HMI development or modification, emulation, testing, troubleshooting, customer site commissioning, and project administrative and budget control activities.

This role serves as a primary technical owner for controls execution, coordinating with Mechanical Engineering, Software, Installation, Project Management, Solution Development, Finance, and Customer stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, and high-quality systems that meet project scope, schedule, budget, and performance requirements. The Professional level is expected to lead projects with appropriate independence, mentor less experienced engineers, manage technical and administrative project responsibilities, and proactively escalate technical, financial, schedule, or scope risks.

We offer:

Controls Project Engineering Execution

·Lead controls engineering execution for assigned projects, project areas, or major work packages from project handoff (sales) through commissioning, go-live, site support, standby support and project turnover.

·Act as the primary Project Engineering controls point of contact for assigned projects or project areas.

·Review project scope, Solution Development outputs, customer specifications, quotes, layouts, and technical requirements to confirm the proposed solution is executable.

·Divide assigned project scope into control areas and define the required controls approach for each area.

·Develop, review, and maintain controls layouts, schematics, BOMs, detailed drawings, installation documentation, and other required project deliverables.

·Support order entry activities to ensure required controls materials, devices, and components are properly specified and released.

·Identify and communicate deviations from scope, design gaps, missing information, technical risks, and potential change requirements.

·Coordinate technical execution with Project Management, Mechanical Engineering, Software, Installation, Solution Development, and customer stakeholders.

PLC, HMI, Testing & Emulation

·Develop, modify, test, and validate PLC/HMI logic for assigned controls areas according to Dematic standards and project requirements.

·Support emulation and internal testing activities to validate system functionality before site commissioning.

·Validate I/O, scanners, VFDs, motors, sensors, safety devices, control panels, industrial networks, and related peripheral devices.

·Troubleshoot controls issues across PLC logic, HMI interfaces, field devices, communication networks, and material handling equipment.

·Drive functional testing and integration testing, as well as support site acceptance testing, and go-live readiness activities.

·Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for controls-related issues during engineering execution and site commissioning.

Commissioning & Site Execution

·Lead or support controls commissioning activities for assigned projects or project areas at customer sites.

·Execute startup, checkout, functional validation, integration testing, troubleshooting, and handover activities.

·Work with Mechanical Engineering and Installation teams to confirm systems are mechanically ready for controls commissioning.

·Resolve control-related issues during site execution and escalate risks or blockers when needed.

·Provide site support and standby support during go-live and stabilization phases.

·Ensure commissioning activities are completed safely, according to Dematic standards, project requirements, and customer expectations.

Project Leadership & Communication

·Lead technical coordination for assigned project scope, including planning, execution, issue resolution, escalation, and stakeholder communication.

·Coordinate and guide less experienced engineers assigned to the project, including task direction, technical support, review of deliverables, and commissioning support.

·Communicate technical status, risks, blockers, and recovery actions clearly and proactively.

·Participate in project meetings, commissioning planning, issue reviews, and stakeholder updates.

·Support customer-facing technical discussions as needed during project execution, commissioning, and support phases.

·Support knowledge transfer, lessons learned, and technical alignment across project teams.

Safety, Quality & Continuous Improvement

·Apply Dematic safety standards, customer site safety requirements, and local safety practices during engineering and commissioning activities.

·Follow Dematic standard work, application guides, design practices, documentation standards, and quality review processes.

·Support peers technical reviews and technical validation of deliverables.

·Contribute to productivity improvement, cost reduction, quality improvement, and customer satisfaction initiatives.

·Capture lessons learned and recommend improvements to tools, templates, processes, and commissioning practices.

·Promote consistent execution of Project Engineering standards across assigned controls scope.

Project Budget, Administration & Financial Control

·Understand the project budget, labor allocation, material scope, and cost assumptions related to assigned controls engineering and commissioning scope.

·Track and manage engineering execution activities to support delivery within approved project budget, schedule, and scope.

·Support project administrative activities including order entry, material release, documentation updates, status reporting, issue tracking, and project closeout requirements.

·Monitor engineering hours, site support needs, travel impact, material changes, rework, and technical issues that may affect project cost or schedule.

·Identify, document, and communicate scope deviations, design gaps, missing information, customer-driven changes, and execution risks that may require commercial, schedule, or budget review.

·Support Project Management and Finance stakeholders with technical input related to cost impacts, change requests, rework, recovery plans, and project forecasting.

·Promote responsible use of project resources, including labor, travel, tools, materials, and site support.

Maintain clear records of decisions, technical changes, open issues, and project risks to support accountability and financial control.

Tasks and Qualifications:

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong understanding of controls engineering principles for automated material handling systems.
• Ability to lead controls execution for assigned projects, project areas, or major work packages.
• Ability to read, interpret, and develop controls layouts, schematics, BOMs, sequence of operations, installation drawings, risk assessments, customer specifications, quotes, project proposals, and Dematic standards.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, I/O systems, VFDs, scanners, motors, sensors, safety systems, control panels, Ethernet/IP or other industrial networks, and related controls devices.
• Ability to develop, modify, test, and troubleshoot PLC/HMI logic for standard and moderately complex project areas.
• Ability to perform controls checkout, functional testing, emulation support, commissioning, and root cause troubleshooting.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify technical risks, analyze issues, and drive corrective actions.
• Ability to coordinate across mechanical, controls, software, installation, project management, solution development, and customer teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Ability to work in a customer-facing environment and communicate technical issues clearly.
• Proficiency with relevant tools such as AutoCAD/electrical drawings, Studio 5000, TIA Portal, HMI tools, SAP, CET Designer, Auto Cad, Solidworks, RAD, Microsoft Office, Teams, and issue tracking tools.
• Ability to work independently while escalating and provide follow-up to complex issues appropriately.
• Ability to mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers.
• Ability to understand project budgets, engineering labor plans, material scope, project cost drivers, and schedule impacts related to assigned engineering execution scope.
• Ability to support project administration, order entry, issue tracking, status reporting, change identification, and project closeout activities.
• Ability to identify and communicate technical decisions or execution issues that may affect project cost, schedule, budget, or customer commitments.

Experience Desired

• Typically, 5-8 years of experience in controls engineering, automation, mechatronics, material handling, manufacturing systems, project engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience leading or supporting automated equipment projects from engineering execution through site commissioning, go-live, and stabilization.
• Experience with PLC/HMI development, controls testing, system emulation, I/O checkout, functional testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
• Experience working with cross-functional project teams including mechanical engineering, software, installation, project management, solution development, and customer stakeholders.
• Experience in conveyor, sortation, ASRS, shuttle, palletizing, robotic, or other automated material handling systems is preferred.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers, coordinating technical tasks, or leading defined project execution scope is preferred.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related Engineering discipline.
• Advanced English required, with the ability to communicate with global customers, peers, and project stakeholders.
• PLC, automation, safety, electrical, controls, or project management certifications are preferred but not required.
• Valid passport and visa preferred or required based on project assignment and travel needs.

Additional Job Description

• Domestic and international travel required; expected travel is approximately 40% but may vary depending on project needs.
• Must be able to work at customer sites, warehouses, manufacturing environments, and active installation/commissioning areas.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods during site execution.
• Must follow all required PPE, safety, and customer site requirements.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, weekends, or extended shifts during startup, commissioning, go-live, and standby support phases as required by project needs.
• Ability to lift and transport work-related equipment or luggage up to 25 kg, in accordance with local safety guidelines.
• Employees are expected to demonstrate KION Group values and core competencies, including Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, Excellence, taking responsibility, embracing change, fostering communication, understanding business and customers, delivering solutions, and driving results.