Staff Controls Engineer

Wondering what’s within Beckman Coulter Diagnostics? Take a closer look.

At first glance, you’ll see that for more than 80 years we’ve been dedicated to advancing and optimizing the laboratory to move science and healthcare forward. Join a team where you can be heard, be supported, and always be yourself. We’re building a culture that celebrates backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all our associates. Look again and you’ll see we are invested in you, providing the opportunity to build a meaningful career, be creative, and try new things with the support you need to be successful.

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics is proud to work alongside a community of six fellow Diagnostics Companies at Danaher. Together, we’re working at the pace of change to improve patient lives with diagnostic tools that address the world’s biggest health challenges. 

The Staff Controls Engineer for Beckman Coulter Diagnostics is responsible for technical contributions focusing on state of the art and innovative automation solutions including equipment development, controls, and design through implementation for global operations.   The primary role for this position would include large scale automated equipment related to filling, capping, labeling, inspection, and advanced material handling functionality.

This position is part of the Global system test and innovation engineering department located in Chaska, MN and will be responsible for multisite equipment deployment opportunities. At Beckman Coulter, our vision is to relentlessly reimagine healthcare, one diagnosis at a time.

You will be a part of the Equipment Automation team and report to the Automation Engineering Manager responsible for equipment automation design and implementation, as well as innovative process technologies for continuous improvement for global operations. If you thrive in an innovative technical role and want to work to build a world-class automation organization—read on.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Collaborate with Beckman factories to generate user requirement specifications (URS) and other supporting design documentation to facilitate quotes, design, fabrication, testing and installation of automated equipment.

• Lead project execution, covering estimation, justification, budget management, scheduling, design, implementation, installation, start-up, troubleshooting, and documentation, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.

• Design, program, and troubleshoot industrial control systems, including PLCs, robotics, servo controls, vision systems, HMIs, and AC/DC drives.

• Collaborate with contracted equipment suppliers to design large scale automation equipment to be used in various BEC manufacturing sites.

• Develop automation concepts and set direction on complex projects to provide architectural level design and digital connectivity.

• Communicate effectively with operators, supervisors, mechanics and other plant team members to help facilitate the troubleshooting and repair process.

• Create controls engineering standard work best practices to be utilized throughout equipment procurement, design, installation, and FAT/SAT process.

• Responsible for ensuring PLC, HMI, machine vision, and motion control programming design deliverables from contracted equipment suppliers meet design deliverables.

• Develop automation related design calculations, experiments, and studies for new process development.

• Perform quality reviews of project design submittals

• Collaborate with internal teams to translate problems into technical solutions.

The essential requirements of the job include:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or applicable Mechatronics / Automation Engineering discipline and 9+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's degree in field with 7+ years of experience

• PLC programming experience with ladder logic & structured text

• Experience with electromechanical systems including AC & DC motor drives, servo motors, HMIs, I/O hardware, machine vision, and machine safety.

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential, with an ability to distill complex technical information into clear, understandable formats for decision-makers.

• Lead and participate in automation and equipment line debug while providing on-site installation and training as required by project specifications.

• Strong project management and problem-solving skills

• Process and continuous improvement mindset

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Hands-on experience with complex mechanical systems including CAD modeling.