Intralox, L.L.C., located in Hanover, MD, is seeking a Development Controls Engineer to join our Development Test team. The Hanover site serves as a hub for innovation in conveyance equipment and supports product releases for customers around the world. The Development Test team advances new solutions through every stage of the product lifecycle, from early concept through full commercial release. You will work with Test Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and cross-functional development teams to create, refine, and validate control systems for developmental conveyor equipment. This role focuses on the Activated Roller Belt (ARB) Equipment space.
Intralox is a division of Laitram, L.L.C., with an extensive portfolio of innovative conveyance solutions and services that improve lives and optimize businesses worldwide. Our global workforce of over 3,000 employees in 20+ countries has delivered solutions for customers for more than 50 years.
Responsibilities
• Own the design, development, documentation, debugging, deployment, and support of PLC, HMI, and controls software used for developmental conveyor equipment, conveyor test loops, prototype equipment, and test systems.
• Work closely with Test Engineers to translate equipment behavior, test objectives, and performance gaps into practical controls strategies and improvement concepts.
• Configure and integrate field devices such as VFDs, photoeyes, encoders, barcode scanners, sensors, actuators, solenoids, safety devices, alarms, I/O, and cameras.
• Support rapid iteration as equipment concepts, test plans, and performance targets evolve.
• Contribute to control system architecture for test loops and developmental equipment, emphasizing modularity, repeatability, maintainability, and efficient troubleshooting.
• Improve test-loop capability, standardize setup procedures, refine configuration workflows, and reduce cycle time across test operations.
• Take ownership of complex controls-related problems and drive them toward conclusions, corrective actions, or design recommendations.
• Serve as a technical bridge between R&D Controls Engineers, Test Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and other development stakeholders.
• Document controls logic, equipment setup, troubleshooting procedures, operating practices, and test-system configuration.
• Identify opportunities to increase testing efficiency through automation, data capture, diagnostics, visualization, and AI-assisted tools.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related technical field. Significant hands-on industrial automation experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 5+ years of controls, automation, or industrial equipment development experience.
• Strong industrial PLC programming experience, including ladder logic and structured text.
• Experience with Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, or comparable controls platforms.
• Proficiency configuring and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, industrial PCs, networks, VFDs, sensors, cameras, and related automation hardware used on conveyors, sorters, or other industrial equipment.
• Ability to diagnose equipment behavior using controls knowledge and an understanding of mechanical systems, product flow, safety systems, and test objectives.
• Ability to work in an evolving development environment and collaborate with Test and Mechanical Engineers on equipment design, testing strategy, and performance.
• Experience creating or interpreting electrical schematics, control-panel layouts, and control-circuit documentation; AutoCAD Electrical preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, documentation, and hands-on equipment skills.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally (10–20%), support field activities as needed, and work weekends, holidays, or overtime when required.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with conveyor, industrial automation, product handling, packaging, logistics, warehousing, or material-handling equipment.
• Beckhoff controls platforms and TwinCAT programming.
• MATLAB, Python, SQL, or tools for data analysis, automation, diagnostics, or test-system support.
• Controls solutions for prototype equipment, R&D systems, test stands, or developmental machinery.
• Systems for data capture, equipment diagnostics, test automation, or repeatable performance measurement.
• AI-assisted tools for troubleshooting, documentation, data extraction, video review, or test analysis.
Compensation: The good-faith salary range is $75,300–$192,300. The position is eligible for commissions, discretionary incentives, or production incentives according to the applicable plan. Benefits may include health, dental, vision, disability insurance, paid time off, 401(k), flexible spending account, life and AD&D insurance, long-term care, tuition reimbursement, and other voluntary benefits. Intralox considers the role, responsibilities, experience, location, education, and skills when extending an offer.
This position is not eligible for work authorization or sponsorship. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled.
Apply through the employer’s official application page: https://jobs.laitram.com/en_US/JobsLaitram/ApplicationMethods?jobId=8254
