Automation Control Specialist Job

Controls & Electrical Design Engineer (Industrial Automation)

Location: Greater Olympia, WA Area (Lacey / Tumwater / Shelton)
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Full Benefits + Travel Allowances

About the Role

Are you a hands-on engineer who loves bringing massive, complex machinery to life? We are seeking a skilled Controls & Electrical Design Engineer to join our local engineering team. Working alongside a Senior Electrical Engineer, you will own the design, programming, and field implementation of electro-mechanical products used in heavy manufacturing and material handling.
This role offers the perfect mix of high-level CAD design, PLC programming, and field commissioning—including domestic and international travel to support major client installations.

What You’ll Do (Essential Responsibilities)

• Design & Layout: Develop robust electrical layouts for new and revised industrial machinery using AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
• Control Systems: Program PLC systems using ladder logic and design custom control applications for automated industrial use.
• Engineering Calculations: Run critical calculations for circuit designs, conductor sizing, power requirements, and PLC scan times.
• Field Commissioning: Travel to customer sites (domestic and international) to support system start-ups, installations, performance runs, and complex breakdowns.
• Cross-Functional Support: Partner with sales, service, and field technicians by providing precise assembly detail and commercial part numbers.
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What We’re Looking For (Qualifications)

• Education: Associate degree in a technical field (e.g., Automation, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology) required.

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of direct experience designing electro-mechanical equipment for manufacturing environments.

• Industry Focus: Heavy industrial equipment experience required (experience with panel design, wood, pulp, or paper product handling machinery is a huge plus).

• Technical Mastery: Proven proficiency in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent CAD software. Deep knowledge of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and motion control systems is mandatory.
• Programming Skills: Strong background in industrial electrical design, specifically ladder logic programming across multiple platforms.

• Travel Ready: Must hold a current United States passport and be willing/able to undertake extended trips for project installations.

• Soft Skills: Excellent written/verbal communication, self-motivated mindset, and the ability to work with minimal supervision in a collaborative team environment.

Why Join Us?

We offer a collaborative engineering department focused on continual machine innovation, a strong pipeline of diverse projects, and the chance to see your designs built and operational across the globe.

With more than 30 years experience at placing people, KMR’s team have developed a multidimensional process to aid organizations in finding, assessing and training qualified outstanding talent. Our process excels at complex searches and we’ve successfully completed numerous assignments nationally and internationally.