Description Build Machines That Matter. At Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC), we design, engineer, and build custom automation systems that solve complex manufacturing challenges for customers across medical, consumer products,…
Concord Township, Pennsylvania, United States · Hybrid
Mid level
Description At Steven Douglas Corp (SDC) we design and build custom, automated machines that are used in a wide variety of applications and industries. We work in a fast -paced, exciting, and highly technical environment…
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Full-time
bachelor degree
Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Health savings account, Employee assistance program, 401(k) with employer match
Posted 4d ago
~40 hrs/week
Responsibilities
Own the controls portion of custom automation projects from concept through customer acceptance and startup. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, test, and debug reliable control architectures for complex machinery.
Requirements
Requires 5+ years of hands-on controls engineering experience with custom industrial machinery and strong PLC/HMI programming skills. A bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent industry experience is required.
Full job description
Description
Build Machines That Matter.
At Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC), we design, engineer, and build custom automation systems that solve complex manufacturing challenges for customers across medical, consumer products, industrial, automotive, and other industries.
No two projects are the same. Our engineers work on high-performance custom equipment from concept through startup, solving new technical challenges every day instead of maintaining the same production line. If you enjoy building machines from the ground up, collaborating with a talented team, and seeing your work come to life on the customer's floor, we'd love to talk with you.
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
5+ years of hands-on controls engineering experience designing custom industrial machinery or complex automated systems.
Experience designing electrical control systems, including electrical schematics, panel layouts, and I/O lists using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar software.
Strong PLC and HMI programming experience, primarily Allen-Bradley (Logix family, GuardLogix, PanelView, FactoryTalk View, or similar platforms).
Solid experience implementing complex motion control including servo systems, coordinated multi-axis motion, and high-speed automation.
Experience leading controls work through the complete project lifecycle—from concept and design reviews through programming, debug, machine runoff, customer FAT, installation, and startup.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent hands-on industry experience.
This position is best suited for engineers who have designed and commissioned new automation equipment. While maintenance and manufacturing experience is valuable, this role focuses on creating new machines from the ground up.
Nice to Have
Experience integrating industrial robots such as FANUC, Yaskawa, Epson, ABB, or similar platforms.
Experience with industrial vision systems including Cognex, Keyence, or equivalent technologies.
Familiarity with C# or other object-oriented programming languages.
Experience with Ignition, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Beckhoff, or other industrial controls platforms.
Knowledge of industrial safety systems, functional safety, and machine risk assessments.
What You’ll Do:
Own the controls portion of multiple automation projects from concept through customer acceptance.
Define control architectures alongside mechanical and electrical engineers to develop reliable, maintainable automation systems.
Develop, test, and debug PLC, HMI, motion control, and safety programs using standardized, scalable programming practices.
Lead controls debug during panel build, machine assembly, runoff, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), installation, and startup.
Work directly with customers during design reviews, FATs, startups, and technical discussions.
Collaborate daily with Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Project Management, Purchasing, and Service to deliver successful projects.
Apply and continuously improve SDC's controls standards, reusable code libraries, and engineering best practices.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues using a calm, systematic, root-cause approach.
Work with modern automation technologies including robotics, machine vision, servo motion, industrial networking, and advanced manufacturing software.
Travel approximately 10% to support customer startups and project implementation.
What Success Looks Like
Successful Controls Engineers at SDC:
Deliver reliable, maintainable control systems that perform as designed.
Complete projects on schedule while maintaining high engineering quality.
Build strong working relationships with customers and teammates.
Continuously improve engineering standards, documentation, and reusable controls libraries.
Help make every machine better than the last.
What We Expect From Everyone at SDC
Every role at SDC is built on a shared set of expectations that define how we work together.
Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and accountability in everything you do.
Treat coworkers, customers, suppliers, and partners with respect.
Communicate openly and collaboratively across all departments.
Take ownership by identifying issues early, proposing solutions, and following through.
Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a positive, team-first attitude.
Produce high-quality, detail-oriented work that supports safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Be dependable, willing to learn, and ready to support teammates whenever needed.
Contribute to a workplace built on trust, teamwork, and shared success.
Why Join Steven Douglas Corp.?
Work on challenging, custom automation projects—not repetitive production support.
Collaborate with an experienced team of engineers, machinists, electricians, assemblers, and project managers.
See your designs come to life from concept through customer startup.
Help shape engineering standards and influence how future machines are built.
Grow your technical skills while working with robotics, vision systems, servo motion, AI-enabled inspection, and advanced automation technologies.
Join a stable, family-owned company committed to long-term growth, innovation, and investing in its people.
Benefits
Competitive salary based on experience.
Performance-based incentive opportunities.
100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with supplemental coverage options.
Company-sponsored Health Savings Account (HSA).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
401(k) with a 4% employer match per pay period.
Paid vacation, sick leave, and 10 company-paid holidays.
Ongoing opportunities for professional development and career growth.
Custom automation for manufacturers who need it to work — and keep working.
Industry
Automation Machinery Manufacturing
Company size
51-200 employees
Founded
1998
Headquarters
Concord, OH
LinkedIn followers
3,590
When a manufacturer needs a custom machine — one that runs fast, runs reliably, and doesn't leave their team stranded when something goes wrong — they call SDC.
Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC) designs, engineers, and builds custom automated machines for manufacturers across North America and globally. We've been doing this since 1998, and we've completed more than 1,400 projects across automotive, life sciences, electronics, aerospace, energy, and consumer products.
Our sweet spot is high-speed, small-part assembly — the kind of machine that takes a process your people are doing by hand and turns it into something that runs lights-out. We typically work in the $500K–$2M project range, and we handle everything in-house: concept, design, build, run-off, installation, and ongoing support.
What sets us apart isn't just what we build — it's what happens after. We stand behind our machines for as long as they're in production. Our project managers stay involved from kickoff through commissioning. And when something comes up down the road, you're calling the people who built it.
We're a family-owned company headquartered in Concord, Ohio. We're not optimizing for an exit, we're scaling and building for the long run — same as the machines we make.
What we build: Assembly & processing machines | Testing & inspection systems | Material handling automation | Robotic cells
Who we serve: Automotive | Life sciences | Electronics | Aerospace | Energy | Consumer products
Offices: 7750 Discovery Lane, Concord, OH 44077, US
Custom Machine DesignAssembly and Processing MachinesTest and Inspection MachinesCustom Material Handling MachinesControls Programmingand Custom Parts ManufacturingMachinery ManufacturingIndustrial AutomationManufacturing
Custom automation for manufacturers who need it to work — and keep working.
Industry
Automation Machinery Manufacturing
Company size
51-200 employees
Founded
1998
Headquarters
Concord, OH
LinkedIn followers
3,590
When a manufacturer needs a custom machine — one that runs fast, runs reliably, and doesn't leave their team stranded when something goes wrong — they call SDC.
Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC) designs, engineers, and builds custom automated machines for manufacturers across North America and globally. We've been doing this since 1998, and we've completed more than 1,400 projects across automotive, life sciences, electronics, aerospace, energy, and consumer products.
Our sweet spot is high-speed, small-part assembly — the kind of machine that takes a process your people are doing by hand and turns it into something that runs lights-out. We typically work in the $500K–$2M project range, and we handle everything in-house: concept, design, build, run-off, installation, and ongoing support.
What sets us apart isn't just what we build — it's what happens after. We stand behind our machines for as long as they're in production. Our project managers stay involved from kickoff through commissioning. And when something comes up down the road, you're calling the people who built it.
We're a family-owned company headquartered in Concord, Ohio. We're not optimizing for an exit, we're scaling and building for the long run — same as the machines we make.
What we build: Assembly & processing machines | Testing & inspection systems | Material handling automation | Robotic cells
Who we serve: Automotive | Life sciences | Electronics | Aerospace | Energy | Consumer products
Offices: 7750 Discovery Lane, Concord, OH 44077, US
Custom Machine DesignAssembly and Processing MachinesTest and Inspection MachinesCustom Material Handling MachinesControls Programmingand Custom Parts ManufacturingMachinery ManufacturingIndustrial AutomationManufacturing