Automation Control Engineer-Japanese Bilingual

Automation Control Engineer-Japanese Bilingual

Location: Nicholasville, KY

Employment Type: Full-Time

Travel: 10–20% (North America)

Overview

We are seeking a Japanese Bilingual Controls Engineer to design, program, and implement industrial automation systems for manufacturing environments. This is a hands‑on role involving PLC programming, system integration, machine startup, and direct customer interaction.

Key Responsibilities

Controls System Design

• Design and develop control systems for custom automation equipment
• Create electrical schematics, panel layouts, and wiring diagrams (AutoCAD Electrical or similar)
• Select components such as PLCs, HMIs, sensors, safety devices, servo systems, and networks
• Develop Bills of Material (BOM)

PLC & HMI Programming

• Develop and troubleshoot PLC programs from scratch
• Design and implement HMI/operator interface screens
• Perform system integration, debugging, and optimization
• Preferred platforms: Allen‑Bradley (Rockwell), Mitsubishi, Keyence, Omron

Machine Startup & Commissioning

• Support equipment build, validation, and debugging
• Perform machine startup and optimization
• Conduct FAT (Factory Acceptance Tests) and SAT (Site Acceptance Tests)
• Provide technical support during production launch
• Troubleshoot electrical and controls-related issues

Customer & Project Support

• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions
• Provide recommendations and problem-solving support
• Communicate project status and technical updates
• Support installation and commissioning at customer sites

Documentation

• Maintain technical documentation including:
  • Electrical drawings
  • PLC/HMI programs
  • Network architecture
  • Operation and service manuals

Qualifications

Required

• Japanese language proficiency
• 3+ years of controls engineering experience
• Experience with PLC programming from the ground up
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and control drawings
• Experience supporting industrial automation or manufacturing systems

Preferred

• Experience in automotive manufacturing
• Experience with robotic systems, motion control, or machine vision
• Experience with welding automation
• Experience using AutoCAD Electrical
• Experience with equipment installation and commissioning