Senior Automation Engineer Jobs in Reading, PA (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: NOW HIRING: INDUSTRIAL CONTROLS & AUTOMATION ENGINEERS Entry-Level to Senior Industrial Electrical Engineering Opportunities Department: Engineering (Electrical) Location: On-site only | 531 Old Swede Road – Douglassville, PA 19518 (No remote work available) Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8:00AM–4:30PM | Full-time hours Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience, technical capability, education, and market data. Compensation level will align with demonstrated electrical engineering knowledge, applicable experience, and ability to contribute independently Looking for real engineering work, hands-on problem solving, and projects that actually get built? At American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO), we are looking for Electrical Engineers with strong industrial controls and automation experience – particularly professionals who have programmed, commissioned, or supported automated equipment using Beckhoff Structured Text or comparable IEC 61131-3 programming platforms. Direct overhead-crane experience is valuable, but it is not the only path into this role. We are especially interested in engineers from industries that design, build, integrate, or support:Conveyor and sortation systemsAutomated material-handling equipmentDistribution and fulfillment centersPackaging and processing machineryRobotics and motion-control systemsCustom industrial machineryWarehouse automationManufacturing automationSystems integrationHeavy industrial equipment If you have designed controls for equipment that moves, positions, lifts, transfers, sequences, or automates material, your experience may translate directly to our work. This is not a purely theoretical engineering position. Your controls logic, electrical designs, and troubleshooting decisions will support equipment that is manufactured, tested, installed, and operated in real industrial environments. You will not get lost here. Your work will be seen, and it will matter.What This Role Really Is This is a hands-on industrial electrical engineering and controls role focused on custom crane, hoist, motion-control, and automated material-handling systems. You will work across the full equipment lifecycle from electrical design and controls programming through manufacturing support, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and field performance. Depending on experience, you may support projects under mentorship or independently own the electrical and controls scope for complex engineered systems. This role requires more than creating drawings. Success depends on understanding how hardware, software, motors, drives, sensors, safety systems, and mechanical equipment work together as one operating system. Who Thrives Here (and Who Doesn’t) You will do well here if you:Enjoy programming and troubleshooting real industrial equipmentCan connect controls logic to physical machine behaviorTake ownership of technical decisions and system performanceAre comfortable working across electrical design, software, manufacturing, and testingEnjoy custom-engineered projects rather than repetitive product workCan communicate effectively with engineers, technicians, electricians, manufacturing employees, and customersWant your designs to be built, tested, and used This role is likely not a fit if you:Prefer software development with little interaction with physical equipmentWant a highly segmented role limited to one narrow engineering taskAvoid hands-on troubleshooting or manufacturing-floor involvementPrefer repetitive controls projects with limited customizationDo not want accountability for how the completed system performs What Success Looks Like (First 90 Days) Early-Career EngineersLearn ACECO electrical standards, controls architecture, products, and engineering workflowsSupport electrical schematics, hardware selection, software documentation, and system testingDevelop familiarity with PLCs, VFDs, motor controls, sensors, safety circuits, and crane operating sequencesBuild working relationships with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service, and Project ManagementBegin contributing to controls-programming and troubleshooting activities under guidance Experienced EngineersReview existing industrial-controls architecture with minimal ramp-upContribute independently to Structured Text programming, electrical design, and system troubleshootingBegin owning the electrical and controls scope for assigned projectsSupport manufacturing and field teams during equipment testing and issue resolutionIdentify opportunities to improve controls standards, reusable code, documentation, and engineering workflowsServe as a technical resource for less experienced engineers where appropriate Why Join Our Team at American Crane? Controls Work With Physical Impact Your software and electrical designs directly control large, highly customized industrial equipment. Complex Automation Challenges Work with motors, drives, feedback devices, motion systems, safety circuits, operator interfaces, sensors, and coordinated equipment sequences. Transferable Industry Experience Engineers from conveyor, warehouse automation, packaging, robotics, systems integration, and custom machinery environments can apply their experience to new and technically challenging equipment. Full-System Exposure Participate in design, programming, manufacturing support, testing, commissioning, and field troubleshooting. Technical Ownership Engineering judgment matters here. You will be expected to solve problems, contribute ideas, and take responsibility for the performance of your designs. Stability and Growth ACECO combines the resources and stability of an established manufacturer with continued investment in automation, connected equipment, and advanced control systems. What You’ll Do Industrial Controls ProgrammingDevelop, modify, test, and troubleshoot PLC-based control systems for cranes, hoists, and material-handling equipmentProgram industrial automation applicationsDevelop sequenced operations, interlocks, permissives, alarms, diagnostics, and fault-handling logicSupport reusable programming standards, function blocks, libraries, and controls architectureDevelop or support operator-interface and HMI functionalityDocument controls logic, software revisions, operating sequences, and system behaviorSupport software simulation, testing, debugging, and commissioning activities Electrical Design and EngineeringDesign industrial electrical and control systems for custom cranes and hoistsCreate and review electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control-panel layouts, and bills of materialSelect PLCs, drives, motors, sensors, relays, protective devices, operator controls, and related componentsApply electrical engineering principles to motor control, power distribution, industrial automation, and machine safetyCoordinate electrical requirements with mechanical and structural system designs Motion Control, Drives, and Equipment IntegrationConfigure and support variable-frequency drives and motor-control systemsIntegrate sensors, encoders, limit switches, operator controls, and feedback devicesSupport coordinated equipment movements, speed control, positioning, and operating sequencesEvaluate system response and make programming or hardware adjustments to improve performanceSupport integration between controls software, electrical hardware, and mechanical equipment Testing, Troubleshooting, and CommissioningTroubleshoot electrical and controls issues during manufacturing, testing, installation, and field operationIdentify root causes involving software, wiring, hardware, drives, sensors, communication networks, or mechanical interactionWork directly with electricians, technicians, manufacturing employees, and Field Service personnel to resolve system issuesParticipate in Factory Acceptance Testing and customer-required testingSupport commissioning and field troubleshooting when required Standards, Quality, and DocumentationSupport compliance with applicable requirements, including NEC, NFPA, UL 508A, ASME, and internal engineering standardsCreate clear engineering documentation, software records, test procedures, and technical reportsParticipate in design reviews and continuous improvement initiativesHelp improve electrical standards, programming practices, documentation quality, and system reliability What We’re Looking For EducationBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET/EAC-accredited program requiredMaster’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, or a related discipline is a plus Experience We will consider candidates across multiple experience levels; however, this search is particularly focused on engineers who bring demonstrated controls-programming experience. Experienced Candidate PriorityThree or more years of professional experience programming industrial equipment using IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, including platforms such as Beckhoff, TwinCAT, Codesys, Siemens, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, B&R, or similar controlsExperience designing, programming, commissioning, or troubleshooting automated industrial equipmentExperience integrating PLCs, VFDs, motors, sensors, HMIs, industrial networks, safety circuits, and mechanical systemsExperience in conveyor systems, warehouse automation, distribution centers, automated machinery, packaging equipment, robotics, material handling, systems integration, or custom equipment manufacturing strongly valued Early-Career Consideration Early-career engineers may be considered when they demonstrate meaningful academic, co-op, internship, project, or professional exposure to:Structured Text or PLC programmingIndustrial automationMotor controls and VFDsMechatronicsMachine controlsRoboticsConveyor or material-handling systemsCustom equipment design Technical Skills Ideal candidates should be able to demonstrate experience in several of the following areas:IEC 61131-3 programming conceptsPLC architecture and industrial controlsVFD configuration and motor controlIndustrial communication networks and fieldbus systemsHMI development and operator-interface designElectrical schematic development and reviewControl-panel designSensors, encoders, switches, relays, and safety devicesMachine sequencing, interlocks, permissives, and diagnosticsTroubleshooting automated mechanical and electrical systemsNEC, NFPA, UL 508A, ASME, or related standardsEngineering documentation and configuration controlStrong ownership of technical work and project outcomesPractical understanding of how controls software affects physical equipmentAbility to troubleshoot across software, electrical, and mechanical boundariesClear technical communicationProfessional judgment and engineering integrityReliability and follow-throughWillingness to work directly with manufacturing and field teamsCommitment to Safety, Quality, Continuous Improvement, and GRIT Experience with crane and hoist systems is preferred but not required when the candidate brings strong, transferable automation and material-handling experience. Work Location and Schedule This role requires availability to work full-time hours on-site, Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Remote and hybrid work are not available for this position. Candidates should be located within a reasonable daily commuting distance of: 531 Old Swede RoadDouglassville, PA 19518 If relocation is necessary, the selected candidate must relocate before the established start date. American Crane & Equipment Corporation does not provide relocation assistance. RequirementsAuthorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorshipAbility to verify identity and employment authorization in compliance with Form I-9 requirementsEligibility to access information or technology governed by applicable U.S. export-control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810, EAR, and/or ITARWillingness to undergo a background check in accordance with applicable lawsWillingness to undergo a pre-employment drug screen and randomized drug testing during employmentAbility to meet the posted work schedule and maintain reliable attendance and punctualityWillingness to follow all company safety policies and proceduresWillingness to wear required PPE in manufacturing and testing areasWillingness to complete required safety, compliance, and role-specific trainingAbility to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodationAbility to maintain professional conduct aligned with company expectations Additional Position RequirementsAbility to work in both office and manufacturing environmentsAbility to spend time on the manufacturing floor during equipment build and testingAbility to safely navigate active industrial environmentsAbility to occasionally travel to customer locations, project sites, or commissioning assignments when requiredCertain projects may require the ability to obtain and maintain unescorted access to commercial nuclear facilities Work Environment This is primarily an office-based engineering role with regular interaction in manufacturing, testing, and field-service environments. The position will involve exposure to electrical equipment, moving machinery, overhead cranes, industrial noise, fabrication activity, and active equipment testing. Appropriate PPE is required in designated areas. What’s In It For You? At American Crane & Equipment Corporation, we invest in engineers who want to solve real automation challenges and see their work become operating equipment.Competitive compensation based on controls-programming experience and technical capabilityMedical, dental, vision, and life insurance available on the first day of employmentGenerous paid time off with annual rollover401(k) retirement plan with company matchTen paid company holidaysTuition reimbursement and technical development opportunitiesDirect exposure to controls, programming, VFDs, motors, and industrial automationOpportunity to transfer conveyor, robotics, warehouse automation, packaging, or systems-integration experience into engineered lifting systemsFull-system involvement from design through testing and field performanceLong-term technical growth without a required move into people managementVisible impact across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Field Service What to Expect from Our Hiring Process Every application is reviewed by our internal Talent Acquisition team. We do not rely on automated screening tools. We encourage applicants to tailor their resumes to accurately reflect their controls-programming experience, automation projects, equipment responsibilities, and individual technical contributions. We focus on candidates who demonstrate ownership, reliability, and attention to detail throughout the application process. Qualified candidates typically hear from us within a few business days depending on applicant volume. During the interview process, candidates should be prepared to