Controls Engineer

Lasko Products, an industry leader in home comfort products for more than 120 years, is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to support our manufacturing operations.

This hands-on role is responsible for designing, programming, building, troubleshooting, and commissioning automated equipment and control systems. The Controls Engineer will develop PLC programs, identify opportunities to improve manufacturing automation, and partner with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, and IT to implement safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in a manufacturing environment, strong PLC programming and electrical controls expertise, and the ability to take automation projects from initial concept through installation and production support.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design machine control systems and develop PLC programs from concept through completion.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing equipment, identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and implement effective solutions.
• Design, fabricate, install, and troubleshoot electrical and electronic control systems supporting existing operations and new equipment builds.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing automation or introduce new automated solutions.
• Partner with mechanical designers to develop, justify, fabricate, program, test, debug, install, and commission automation projects.
• Provide hands-on support to Maintenance and Operations teams for PLC, electrical, electronic, and equipment-related issues.
• Build control cabinets and Human Machine Interface (HMI) panels, run wiring, and perform light mechanical fabrication as needed.
• Monitor and support real-time manufacturing data-acquisition systems, including the development of user and customer dashboards.
• Create and modify PLC-based palletizer stacking programs to support new products, customer requests, and skid-configuration changes.
• Program and troubleshoot robotics, vision systems, and end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), including FANUC robotic applications.
• Support collaborative robotic applications and identify opportunities to incorporate robotics into manufacturing processes.
• Partner with Corporate IT on projects involving industrial networks, system integration, or onsite technical support.
• Contribute to continuous-improvement, equipment-reliability, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Travel occasionally to other Lasko facilities as business needs require.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five to ten years of technical experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing, modifying, and troubleshooting PLC programs.
• Strong knowledge of electrical control systems, industrial networks, and electronic equipment.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, technical drawings, and equipment documentation.
• Hands-on experience wiring equipment, building control cabinets, and configuring HMI panels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to provide and use basic hand tools required for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience programming and troubleshooting Omron PLCs and controls.
• Experience with FANUC robotics and vision systems.
• Knowledge of collaborative robotics and end-of-arm tooling.
• Experience with manufacturing data-acquisition systems and dashboard development.
• Experience designing and commissioning automated manufacturing equipment.

Competencies

• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Highly organized and able to manage projects systematically from concept through completion.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently with limited supervision.
• Dependable, responsive, and able to support time-sensitive manufacturing needs.
• Able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities.
• Strong safety awareness with the ability to identify and correct potentially unsafe conditions.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Energetic, hands-on approach to supporting manufacturing operations.