Professional Controls Project Engineer
No salary listed
Senior
Bachelor's
Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico+1 moreMore locations: Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
In PersonDomestic and international travel required; expected travel is approximately 40%, varying with project needs.
Electrical EngineeringControls & Automation Engineering
About the job
Requirements
- 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, bills of materials, sequence of operations, installation drawings, risk assessments, customer specifications, quotes, project proposals, and Dematic standards.
- Working knowledge of programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, input/output systems, variable frequency drives, scanners, motors, sensors, safety systems, control panels, Ethernet/IP or other industrial networks, and related controls devices.
- Ability to develop, modify, test, and troubleshoot programmable logic controller/human-machine interface logic for standard and moderately complex project areas.
- Ability to perform controls checkout, functional testing, emulation support, commissioning, and root cause troubleshooting.
- 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, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, RAD, Microsoft Office, Teams, and issue tracking tools.
- Ability to work independently while escalating and providing follow-up on 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.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Advanced English proficiency to communicate with global customers, peers, and project stakeholders.
- Valid passport and visa, when required by project assignment and travel needs.
- Ability to work at customer sites, warehouses, manufacturing environments, and active installation/commissioning areas.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during site execution.
- Ability to follow required personal protective equipment, safety, and customer site requirements.
- Ability to work flexible hours, weekends, or extended shifts during startup, commissioning, go-live, and standby support phases when project needs require it.
- Ability to lift and transport work-related equipment or luggage up to 25 kg in accordance with local safety guidelines.
Responsibilities
- Lead controls engineering execution for assigned projects, project areas, or major work packages from project handoff 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 that 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, bills of materials, detailed drawings, installation documentation, and other required project deliverables.
- Support order entry 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.
- Develop, modify, test, and validate programmable logic controller/human-machine interface logic for assigned controls areas according to Dematic standards and project requirements.
- Support emulation and internal testing to validate system functionality before site commissioning.
- Validate input/output, scanners, variable frequency drives, motors, sensors, safety devices, control panels, industrial networks, and related peripheral devices.
- Troubleshoot controls issues across programmable logic controller logic, human-machine interface interfaces, field devices, communication networks, and material handling equipment.
- Drive functional testing and integration testing, and 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.
- 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.
- 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, deliverable review, 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 during project execution, commissioning, and support phases as needed.
- Support knowledge transfer, lessons learned, and technical alignment across project teams.
- 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.
- 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.
- Travel domestically and internationally as required; expected travel is approximately 40% and may vary with project needs.
- 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.
Desired Qualifications
- 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 programmable logic controller/human-machine interface development, controls testing, system emulation, input/output 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, automated storage and retrieval systems, shuttle, palletizing, robotic, or other automated material handling systems.
- Experience mentoring junior engineers, coordinating technical tasks, or leading defined project execution scope.
- Programmable logic controller, automation, safety, electrical, controls, or project management certifications are preferred but not required.
About the company
KION Group supplies forklift trucks, warehouse equipment, and integrated automation technology, plus software to optimize supply chains. Its products work through direct sales or leasing of industrial trucks, automated storage and retrieval systems, and warehouse management software that move, store, and track goods. It differentiates itself with a multi-brand portfolio (Linde MH, STILL, Dematic, Baoli, Fenwick, OM, Voltas) offering end-to-end intralogistics solutions, spanning hardware, software, and services. Its goal is to improve efficiency, accuracy, and visibility in customers' supply chains through real-time, secure operations and ongoing digital transformation.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Wiesbaden, Germany
Founded
2006
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- July 30, 2026 adjusted EBIT rose 18% as efficiency savings hit.
- September 20, 2026 Antwerp Automation Center accelerates AMR commercialization and customer pilots.
- Colruyt’s 30-vehicle deployment and 2026 proof-of-concept validate KION’s automation stack.
What critics are saying
- July 30, 2026 order intake fell 20%, signaling a weaker 2026 pipeline.
- Q2 2026 debt jumped to €1.24 billion after a €500 million bond issuance.
- If automation revenue stalls, KION remains a cyclical forklift maker facing Chinese price pressure.
What makes KION Group unique
- Linde, STILL, and Dematic bundle trucks, automation, and software under one supplier.
- July 14, 2026 Colruyt deal gave KION 70% of Smart Innovation and Antwerp hub.
- KION’s June-August 2026 cold-chain and AGV launches target freezer logistics competitors ignore.
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Benefits
- Career Development
- Competitive Compensation and Benefits
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- Global Opportunities
- Remote Work Options