Senior Industrial Controls Engineer

Senior Industrial Controls Engineer - 10+ Years Required Location: Hendersonville, North Carolina Industry: Industrial Controls/R&DAbout UsSolid Rock Recruiting is partnering with a leader in industrial automation and advanced kiln systems, serving customers worldwide with innovative engineering solutions. We are seeking a Senior R&D / Industrial Engineer to drive research & development, solve complex technical challenges, and support large-scale equipment installations. This role is critical to our continued growth and requires a highly skilled, hands-on engineer who thrives in dynamic, technical environments.What You'll DoLead R&D initiatives and drive innovation across mechanical, electrical, and control systems.Serve as the go-to technical problem solver-able to diagnose and resolve issues that others can't.Oversee commissioning, startup, and servicing of industrial kiln equipment in the field.Develop, program, and optimize PLCs (primarily Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, but open to others).Work with servo systems, VFDs, networking, and advanced controls integration.Update and maintain our proprietary software controls package.Collaborate with plant operations, maintenance, and project teams to ensure successful installations.Mentor junior engineers and contribute to knowledge-sharing across the team.What We're Looking ForMust-Have Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering field.10-25 years of industrial engineering experience (automation, plant engineering, or similar).Strong PLC programming skills (Rockwell preferred, but definitely open to others).Broad background across mechanical and electrical systems-not siloed in one discipline.Proven track record in industrial automation, troubleshooting, and hands-on problem solving.Experience with project, plant, or maintenance management.Excellent communication skills-able to work with customers and internal teamsNice-to-Haves:Experience with kilns, furnaces, or large-scale industrial process equipment.R&D leadership experience.Welding practices, corrosion troubleshooting, and/or pressure vessel certifications.Additional DetailsTravel expectation is ~50% (startup, commissioning, customer support).Candidates should be willing to base themselves in or near Hendersonville, NC, to stay connected with the team and office.Compensation is extremely competitive with flexibility for the right candidate. This is a highly selective search: we're seeking an "A-player" engineer with deep technical expertise and leadership capability. If you're a seasoned engineer who thrives on solving the toughest challenges, we want to talk to you. Apply today by sending your resume to Ryan@solidrockrecruiting.com or giving me a call at 605.291.1328