Senior Automation Support Engineer (Controls)

Job TitleSenior Automation Support Engineer (Controls)Job DescriptionPosition SummaryAs an Automation Support Engineer (Controls), you will be part of a dedicated Launch Support Team, focused on supporting large, high-throughput customer sites during system startup. This includes ramp-up-support during go live, and hyper care phases, where system stability, fast recovery, and clear communication are critical to daily operations.You will work closely with the customer’s on‑site technical teams, acting as a local technical coach and helping them understand, troubleshoot, and stabilize the system. During incidents, you will be the primary technical link between the site team and Vanderlande, ensuring effective troubleshooting, timely escalation, and clear alignment between all parties.This role supports fast paced environments where systems operate at high speed and high volume. You will help customers achieve reliable system availability, meet performance targets, and build confidence to operate the system independently. The role requires flexibility and being comfortable working irregular hours during launch windows, including nights and weekends when system availability is critical.While launching new sites is the primary focus, you will also support existing customer sites when not deployed on new launches.You will routinely work on-site at customer buildings for extended periods (typically 2 to 4 weeks). During these assignments, Vanderlande’s Short-term Assignment policy will apply. You will work alongside customer employees in a consultant role, supporting incident recovery, root cause analysis, and system automation improvements.The role includes a specialization in Vanderlande Cross Belt Sorter (SCS) controls, which are based on a Siemens IPC communicating with field devices via Profinet. When not on-site, you will support the North American Service Center (NASC) by providing remote support and technical guidance for Cross Belt Sorter issues at existing sites.Essential FunctionsSupport and troubleshoot incidents on Cross Belt Sorter systems both on-site and remotelySupport systems during go‑live, ramp‑up, and hyper care phasesWork alongside customer teams and the NASC to perform root cause analysisAct as the main technical liaison between the site and NASC for SCS-related issuesProvide clear direction during incidents and escalate issues when requiredWork effectively under time pressure and changing priorities in live operationsChallenge assumptions and work with incomplete or evolving documentationWrite incident summaries and provide reports as requiredMaintain a safety‑first mindset when working on or near live automated systemsRequired Education & ExperienceEducation or equivalent hands‑on experience in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related fieldMinimum 3 years of experience in controls or automation supportHands ‑on experience with industrial networks (Profinet, Profibus, Ethernet/IP)Preferred Education & ExperienceExperience with distributed control architecturesOn‑site commissioning, ramp‑up, or launch support experienceBachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science5 years of experience supporting Material Handling Systems or automated logistics environmentsRequired CompetenciesStrong communication skills, both written and verbalStrong troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis skillsAbility to work effectively under pressure and ambiguity, especially during launchesComfortable acting as “the expert in the room” during technical incidentsStrong stakeholder management skills when working with customers on‑siteAbility to work independently and take ownership of issuesAble to prioritize work in fast‑changing, high‑volume environmentsWilling to learn, adapt, and continuously improve technical skillsPractical, solution‑oriented mindsetStrong safety awareness and commitment to safe working practicesFlexible and comfortable working irregular hours during launch windowsTravelThis role is focused on launching new customer sites in North America and requires frequent travel on short‑term assignments. Expected travel is approximately 25%–75%, depending on launch schedules.