Senior/Staff Controls Engineer
Gotion · Manteno, IL
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $120k–$160k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Gotion (automotive) in Manteno, IL.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Root cause, FMEA, DOE, PLC, Robotics, Automation
- Base pay
- $120k–$160k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 20 other live controls postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 26% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $89k–$134k, from 13 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 76%
- ✓ PLC 67%
- ✓ Root cause 52%
- ✓ Robotics 38%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 33%
- Lean 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DOE, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Gotion
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 on the team, plus 2 likely hiring managers. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Yu → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Gotion in Manteno
24 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found on the controls team.
- Junior Equipment Engineer · Manufacturing
- 2nd shift Production Supervisor (Pack D) · Production · Supervisor
- Maintenance Technician (1st shift) · Reliability · Technician
- Lean Supervisor · Lean / CI · Supervisor
- Equipment Engineer, Module &Pack Line · Manufacturing
- Senior Production Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
Full description from GotionAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
Lead troubleshooting and optimization of PLC, HMI, motion control, and industrial networking systems across the production line.
Diagnose chronic automation issues impacting throughput, yield, and process stability; develop and execute permanent corrective actions.
Reprogram, tune, and standardize PLC logic (primarily Siemens S7-1500 / TIA Portal , plus some Omron ).
Improve and maintain equipment documentation, parameter settings, software version control, and backup libraries.
Collaborate with Process, Quality, and Maintenance teams to drive continuous improvement.
Lead controls-related Root Cause Analysis (RCA), FMEA, DOE activities.
Provide technical leadership and knowledge transfer to internal Controls Engineers and Technicians; coach and elevate team capability.
Support new equipment integration, commissioning, and upgrades.
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Automation/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent experience.
8+ years of PLC/Controls experience in a manufacturing environment (assembly / automated production / automotive / battery industry preferred).
Expert-level Siemens PLC programming (TIA Portal / S7-1500) .
Experience with industrial communication protocols (Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus).
Strong troubleshooting and electrical diagnostic ability; able to solve system-level issues independently.
Able to work onsite full-time in a fast-paced production environment.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe. We innovate in the next generation electric vehicle and energy storage technologies (lithium batteries and related systems) with the aim to accelerate electrified transportation and achieve sustainable development. Gotion is powered by a leading power battery technology company that provides solutions for vehicles including the world's first mass commercial e-bus route.
Gotion is a career destination - we are not simply attempting to just fill another job, but to pursue a dream of global green energy together! We offer outstanding opportunities to individuals seeking an exciting and challenging working environment. Everyone is highly valued and plays a vital role in the growth of our organization.
Location: Manteno, IL | On-site
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior/Staff PLC/Controls Engineer to take ownership of automation and control systems for our Pack & Module production line at Gotion’s Manteno facility. This role will lead troubleshooting, stabilization, and optimization of production equipment, while also mentoring existing Controls Engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive throughput and yield improvements.
This is a hands-on role requiring strong problem-solving skills, deep PLC expertise, and proven manufacturing floor experience.
Preferred
Experience with Omron PLC.
Robotics and machine vision integration experience.
Experience stabilizing production lines during ramp-up.