--- title: 'MES Controls Engineer at North Point Technology' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mes-controls-engineer-north-point-technology-novi-michigan-wy1hfyy1gcv4' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-20' --- # MES Controls Engineer at North Point Technology - **Company:** North Point Technology - **Location:** Novi Michigan, United States - **Posted:** 2026-09-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-20 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/northpointtechnology/jobs/8825941002 ## Job description Controls / MES Engineer Location: Warren, Michigan Industry: Automotive Manufacturing Role Type: Controls / Automation / MES Engineering Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Controls / MES Engineer to support a ground-up manufacturing automation implementation for a major automotive manufacturer in Warren, Michigan. This is primarily a new-build development and implementation role, not a sustaining or maintenance position. The engineer will be responsible for designing, programming, integrating, and commissioning controls and manufacturing systems, with a strong focus on Rockwell Studio 5000, Ignition, and PLC-to-MES integration. The ideal candidate has personally taken automation systems from initial design through commissioning and production launch and can demonstrate hands-on experience developing PLC, HMI/SCADA, and MES functionality rather than only modifying or troubleshooting existing systems. ## Key Responsibilities - Design and develop Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/GuardLogix PLC programs from the ground up using RSLogix 5000 / Studio 5000. - Develop PLC architecture including ladder logic, tag structures, UDTs, AOIs, sequencing, diagnostics, alarms, and equipment interfaces. - Design and build Ignition HMI/SCADA applications, including screens, tags, scripting, alarms, communications, and system configuration. - Develop and implement communication between PLCs and MES systems. - Create PLC/MES transaction and handshake logic for manufacturing operations. - Support work-order verification, part and serial-number traceability, recipe/model management, production reporting, and pass/fail transactions. - Integrate barcode scanners, RFID systems, and other production tracking equipment. - Configure and integrate Zebra industrial label printers, including generation and implementation of ZPL code. - Develop automated label-printing processes tied to production events, work orders, and cycle completion. - Perform controls system startup, debugging, commissioning, FAT/SAT, and production launch activities. - Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, MES, networking, and equipment communication issues as needed. - Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, IT/MES teams, equipment integrators, and plant personnel throughout implementation. - Develop and maintain controls documentation, system architecture, backups, and commissioning records. Required Qualifications - Strong hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/GuardLogix and Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000. - Demonstrated experience writing new PLC programs for equipment, stations, or production lines from scratch. - Hands-on experience with Inductive Automation Ignition. - Experience developing Ignition screens, tags, scripting, and/or application architecture. - Experience integrating PLCs with MES or manufacturing information systems. - Understanding of manufacturing transactions such as work-order validation, traceability, recipes, production reporting, and serial-number tracking. - Experience commissioning automated manufacturing equipment. - Strong troubleshooting skills across controls hardware, PLC software, industrial networks, and production systems. - Experience in automotive or other high-volume discrete manufacturing environments. ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience generating ZPL code and integrating Zebra industrial printers. - Experience with barcode and RFID-based production traceability. - Ignition Vision and/or Perspective development experience. - Industrial networking experience including Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, SQL, or related communication technologies. - Experience taking a controls project through the complete lifecycle: design → development → integration → startup → commissioning → production launch. - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. Ideal Candidate The strongest candidate will have experience building controls systems from the ground up, including PLC programming, Ignition development, and PLC-to-MES integration. This position is best suited for an engineer who has built and commissioned new manufacturing systems rather than someone whose background is primarily production support or maintenance. North Point Technology is THE BEST place to work for curious-minded engineers motivated to support our country’s most crucial missions!  We focus on long term projects, leveraging the latest technology in support of innovative solutions to solve our customer’s most difficult problems. At North Point Technology, EMPLOYEES come first!  We value our employees by providing excellent compensation, benefits, and a flexible work-life balance. We strive for a close-knit and open atmosphere where the owners are always directly available to our team members. Come join us! Apply with North Point Technology today! For positions requiring a federal security clearance, your clearance level must be clearly identified on your resume. ## About North Point Technology ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: North Point Technology is an industrial automation and control systems integration firm providing engineering consulting, design, programming, training, maintenance, and support services to industrial and municipal clients worldwide. - **Entity Type**: Private (Small Business, Woman-Owned Business Enterprise – WBE) - **Headquarters**: Johnson City, New York, USA (Binghamton area) - **Founded**: Not publicly available (mentions a February 2018 press article, suggesting operation for at least 8+ years) - **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed; Lisa Lee serves as Principal / CEO ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Industrial automation & control systems integration - **Target customers**: Industrial and municipal clients (B2B), including large and small organizations globally; also serves U.S. government/defense missions (per greenhouse job board) - **Mission / purpose**: “Optimize and enhance processes and control, provide regulatory and operations reporting, minimize power and chemical consumption, allow remote access and monitoring, lower operating and training costs, enhance operator usability, reduce system downtime, save time and money.” (from northpointusa.com) ## Products & Services - **PLC and DCS Systems**: Programming and commissioning of Programmable Logic Controllers and Distributed Control Systems. - **SCADA and HMI Systems**: Design, programming, and commissioning of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Human-Machine Interface systems. - **Historian and Reporting Systems**: Data logging, historical analysis, and regulatory/operations reporting. - **Ethernet and Fieldbus Networks**: Industrial network design and integration. - **Telemetry and Secure Networking**: Remote monitoring, secure communication links. - **Drives and Motion Controllers**: Variable frequency drives, motion control systems. - **Machine Control and Vision Systems**: Custom machine control and industrial vision solutions. - **Instrumentation and Analysis**: Sensor selection, calibration, and process analysis. - **Control Panels and Hardware**: Design and fabrication of control panels. - **IIoT and Cloud Computing**: Industrial Internet of Things implementations, cloud hosting for SCADA/databases, web-based KPI dashboards. - **Specialized Mobile App Development**: Custom mobile applications for industrial monitoring and control. - **Cloud SCADA Hosting**: Hybrid local/cloud SCADA hosting, secure remote access, business process applications. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private small business) - **Key Metric**: Not publicly disclosed (no revenue or funding data available) - **Notable Investors / Partners**: None publicly listed; the company is self-funded/bootstrapped. Certifications: Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by City of Albany, NY; Small Business Enterprise (SBE). Likely eligible for government set-aside contracts. - **Growth Signals**: The company actively recruits for full-time Industrial Automation/PLC Engineers, indicating ongoing demand. They are open to managing branch locations for qualified candidates, suggesting potential expansion. The website mentions recent cloud/IIoT service offerings, aligning with industry trends. ## Competitive Advantages - **Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) status**: Provides eligibility for federal and state contracting set-asides, a differentiator in the automation integration space. - **Broad technical depth**: Covers the full stack from PLC/DCS to cloud, mobile apps, and IIoT, allowing end-to-end solutions. - **Global reach with small-company flexibility**: Works with clients worldwide while maintaining an entrepreneurial, hands-on approach. - **Community and customer focus**: Emphasizes long-term relationships, quality, and reliability. ## Strategic Focus - Expand cloud and IIoT capabilities to help clients reduce downtime and operational costs through remote monitoring and data analytics. - Grow the engineering team, particularly experienced automation engineers with 10+ years of experience. - Potentially open branch locations in other regions (mentioned in career page). - Leverage WBE/SBE certifications to win more government and municipal contracts. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Entrepreneurial, community-oriented, and flexible. The company values employee involvement in all aspects of the business and direct client contact. - **Work environment**: Small engineering firm where engineers can gain hands-on experience across multiple projects and industries. - **Remote / hybrid policy**: Not explicitly stated; likely on-site in Johnson City, NY, with possible travel to client sites. - **Perks**: Competitive compensation and benefits, flexible work hours, potential for relocation assistance and signing bonus for qualified candidates. - **Engineering culture**: Focus on continuous learning, certification in automation software (e.g., Ignition is a plus), and project management growth. - **Community involvement**: The company supports local charities, schools, FIRST Robotics teams, and global missions (e.g., Haiti, Kenya). Employees are encouraged to volunteer. - **Requirements**: U.S. Citizenship required; must be able to travel domestically and internationally with a valid U.S. passport. ## Sources 1. [northpointusa.com](http://www.northpointusa.com/) – Company overview, services, values 2. [northpointusa.com/new-home](http://www.northpointusa.com/new-home) – Services and certification details 3. [northpointusa.com/join-npt](http://www.northpointusa.com/join-npt) – Careers page, core values, community involvement 4. [boards.greenhouse.io/northpointtechnology](https://boards.greenhouse.io/northpointtechnology) – Current job openings and company description 5. [northpointtechnology.com/about](https://www.northpointtechnology.com/about) – Additional about page (may be a rebranded domain, mentions CEO, mission, government focus) ## Other roles at North Point Technology - [Software Engineer - Full Stack (Top Secret/SCI Clearance Required)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-full-stack-top-secret-sci-clearance-required-north-point-xc5pyemdb5ny) — Herndon Virginia, United States - [Controls Engineer - MES](https://feeny.ai/job/controls-engineer-mes-north-point-technology-monterrey-nuevo-leon-adgkggfjmw2y) — Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico - [SAP Technical Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/sap-technical-lead-north-point-technology-novi-michigan-hzf76jcmjdp4) — Novi Michigan, United States - [SAP Technical Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/sap-technical-lead-north-point-technology-novi-michigan-3js3y9k781k3) — Novi Michigan, United States - [SAP Technical Lead 3](https://feeny.ai/job/sap-technical-lead-3-north-point-technology-novi-michigan-qzj3vrk2yjte) — Novi Michigan, United States - [Software Engineer - Full Stack (Top Secret/SCI Clearance Required)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-full-stack-top-secret-sci-clearance-required-north-point-2mkxff5wtcg2) — Herndon Virginia, United States - [Software Engineer - Full Stack (Top Secret/SCI Clearance Required)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-full-stack-top-secret-sci-clearance-required-north-point-yhbpwg3e33gb) — King of Prussia Pennsylvania, United States - [Systems Administrator (Top Secret/SCI with Full Scope Poly to start Clearance Required)](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-administrator-top-secret-sci-with-full-scope-poly-to-start-clearance-z35asez1yevm) — Springfield Virginia, United States - [Linux System Engineer (Top Secret/SCI with agreement to obtain CI Poly Clearance Required)](https://feeny.ai/job/linux-system-engineer-top-secret-sci-with-agreement-to-obtain-ci-poly-clearance-tvzxz5p7wqex) — Chantilly Virginia, United States - [Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/controls-engineer-north-point-technology-pamplona-navarre-xgqs184pymdp) — Pamplona Navarre, Spain