Controls Engineer Jobs in Nicholasville, KY (NOW HIRING)

Adient

Adient, a global leader in automotive seating, is seeking a skilled and hands-on Controls Engineer to support manufacturing operations and drive continuous improvement within our production facility. This role is responsible for troubleshooting, maintaining, and optimizing automated manufacturing equipment to ensure maximum uptime, efficiency, quality, and safety. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in PLC troubleshooting, industrial automation, and manufacturing controls within a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Maintenance team in diagnosing and resolving equipment issues across production operations, including troubleshooting PLC ladder logic, network communications, and data handling functions within Allen Bradley ControlLogix systems.
• Maintain and manage PLC documentation, machine controls drawings, electrical schematics, and program backups for all plant equipment.
• Troubleshoot, repair, and improve automated equipment, including PLCs, HMIs, robots, servo systems, VFDs, scanners, sensors, remote I/O devices, relays, and pneumatic control systems.
• Partner with maintenance personnel to identify root causes of equipment failures and implement long-term corrective actions.
• Lead initiatives to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Develop, maintain, and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs related to automation and controls systems.
• Perform regular backups and recovery testing of PLC, HMI, robotic, and machine control programs.
• Diagnose issues involving electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems that interface with machine controls.
• Utilize instrumentation and control system expertise to restore equipment to safe and efficient operating conditions.
• Support implementation and maintenance of production data collection systems and manufacturing reporting tools.
• Identify opportunities for automation enhancements, error-proofing (Poka-Yoke), and process improvements throughout the manufacturing process.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to support continuous improvement projects and operational excellence initiatives.
• Participate in launch activities, engineering changes, and process modifications while evaluating impacts to equipment and production.
• Lead and participate in structured problem-solving activities such as 8D, 5 Why, Root Cause Analysis, and Corrective Action investigations.
• Assist in specification development and procurement of new manufacturing equipment, including controls standards reviews, design approvals, and equipment acceptance testing.
• Support installation, commissioning, validation, and startup of new automation equipment and production systems.
• Ensure all controls systems comply with applicable safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical training and guidance to maintenance technicians and production personnel on automation systems and troubleshooting methods.
• Maintain a safe working environment and support Adient's safety-first culture.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related technical field preferred. Equivalent automation and controls experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of Controls Engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Automotive manufacturing and Just-In-Time (JIT) production experience strongly preferred.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley PLCs, including ControlLogix and CompactLogix platforms.
• Advanced PLC troubleshooting skills with the ability to modify and develop programs when necessary.
• Experience supporting industrial automation equipment, HMIs, servo systems, VFDs, machine vision systems, and industrial networks.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and the ability to interpret electrical schematics and controls drawings.
• Strong understanding of industrial electrical systems, control voltages, wiring methods, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Experience with Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, or other industrial communication protocols.
• Familiarity with robotic systems, preferably Fanuc, ABB, or similar platforms, is a plus.
• Understanding of hydraulic and pneumatic systems as they relate to automated manufacturing equipment.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating within a cross-functional team environment.

2nd Shift: Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Occasional overtime, weekend support, or off-shift troubleshooting may be required to support production demands and critical equipment needs.

At Adient, you'll have the opportunity to work with advanced manufacturing technologies while contributing to a world-class automotive production environment. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, career development opportunities, and the chance to make a direct impact on operational performance and continuous improvement initiatives.