Controls Engineer C-Crew
Piston Group · North Kansas City, MO
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Piston Group (automotive) in North Kansas City, MO. Analyze and calculate machine performance and requirements utilizing the PLC.
- They ask for
- 2+ years
- Tools it names
- Lean, 5S, TPM, OEE, Kanban, PLC
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Missouri: typical posted base $94k–$140k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 19 controls engineer openings in Missouri, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Missouri plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 18 other live controls postings in Missouri.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 3+)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 84%
- ✓ Automation 68%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 37%
- Robotics 37%
- Root cause 32%
- ✓ AutoCAD 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Piston Group
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: Piston Group in North Kansas City
2 other open roles at this site.
- Controls Engineer A-Crew · Controls
- Quality Engineer · Quality
Full description from Piston GroupAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Analyze and calculate machine performance and
requirements
utilizing the PLC.
- ✓Responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation and tracking of assigned projects.
- ✓Develop and track capital investment budgets for assigned projects.
- ✓Main interface with automation and capital equipment vendors for control solutions.
- ✓Provide controls guidance in equipment selection, overall operations and future expansion.
- ✓Integrating and networking PC's and PLC's (TCP/IP, EthernetIP)
- ✓Provide support for Controls related issues, as required, to prevent or minimize production downtime.
- ✓Drive lean concepts (5S, OEE, Kanban, Visual Factory, TPM etc.) throughout the organization.
- ✓Implement process improvements to improve overall efficiencies, including automation.
- ✓Collaborate on all controls related communication internally and externally, including technical presentation, design reviews, capacity analysis, and feasibility studies.
- ✓Supports Purchasing in evaluation of new suppliers, products and technologies to help maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
- ✓Benchmarking processes and equipment throughout the industry and incorporating into Piston Standards.
- ✓Provide guidance to Maintenance Technicians helping develop skillsets and strengthen the team.
- ✓Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- ✓Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- ✓A minimum of 2 years of experience as a Controls Engineer or Maintenance Technician.
- ✓Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Engineering, Programming
- ✓2-4 years of experience in PLC programming (Allen Bradley Micro Logic, SLC 500's, ControlLogix 5000 processors) for Manual Assembly Cells, Automated Assembly Cells and Power & Free conveyor systems.
- ✓A minimum of 2-4 years programming of Vision Systems (Cognex, DVT, Keyence)
- ✓2-4 years of experience HMI programming (AB PanelView and PanelView Plus)
- ✓A minimum of 2 years of experience in JIT, SPD, ILVS and Batch manufacturing systems. Including broadcast analysis from customer trigger through customer installation.
- ✓2 years of experience with Manual and Automated Assembly Systems and Technologies, including both mechanical and control systems.
- ✓A minimum of 2 years of technical experience required (Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, Power Point, AutoCAD, RSLogix 5000, RSLogix 500, RS View, ex.).
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Overview
The Controls Engineer is responsible for creating, documenting, developing, supporting and improving upon the control systems that are essential to the production processes. Involvement will range from initial project sourcing all the way through SOP +90 days, or as required for corporate employees or launch through EOP plant employees. Both may be required to support implementation of engineering changes for current production products. You will provide your controls expertise to help in tooling design and automation for new projects and process changes driven by product engineering changes. Additionally, responsible for the transfer of all equipment and process documentation to the Production Plant prior to SOP; this includes all OEM equipment documentation (electronic and hard copies of manuals, BOM, drawings, recommended spare parts and recommended PM's). Participating in the development of RFQ's and Equipment Specifications for Capital and Tooling Requirements. Responsible for programming torque control systems and joint development. Selection of error and mistake proofing devices. Supports Engineering Cost Estimator to supply quoted assumptions for the assembly process requirements, capital / tooling investments and direct / indirect labor. Help establish design goals, process and equipment specifications for Controls and Electrical power distribution systems.
Piston Automotive wasn’t just founded to make things. It was founded to make things better. And that begins with building better teams solely dedicated to achieving excellence at every level of execution through a combination of experience, expertise, and a deep seeded passion for what we do. Our assemblies consistently set the standard because our people consistently raise the bar.
Why Piston Automotive?
Competitive Wages, Paid Holidays & Vacation, Medical & Rx Plans, Dental & Vision Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Life & Disability Coverage, 401K with Company Match, Tuition Reimbursement , Vehicle and Product Discounts
Hours - C Crew - 5:30 PM - 4:00 AM; Sunday/Monday night - 6am-4:30pm Friday/Saturday