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MQE / Controls Engineer

BorgWarner · Dixon, IL · $70,400–$96,800 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a PLC and HMI application you wrote or rewrote for a production machine. What problem did it solve?

What they are checking: Whether they have built real controls code that changed how a line ran, not just edited someone else's logic.

Tell me about a time you integrated machine vision, a robot or an industrial network into an existing cell. What went wrong along the way?

What they are checking: Whether they have handled the messy integration work where different devices and protocols have to talk to each other.

Tell me about a time you trained technicians on a system you built. How did you know they could support it without you?

What they are checking: Whether they build support capability on the floor so equipment does not depend on one engineer's phone.

Describe a continuous-improvement project you led that improved safety, quality or uptime. How did you measure the result?

What they are checking: Whether they can show results in numbers that a plant leadership team would recognize and trust.

What would you do

Walk me through how you'd keep electrical schematics, panel layouts and troubleshooting guides current after changes on the floor.

What they are checking: Whether they understand that outdated drawings slow down technicians and create safety risks during repairs.

The plant wants to try collaborative robots or autonomous mobile robots. How would you pick the first project and prove it's worth it?

What they are checking: Whether they can tie new automation to a measurable safety, quality or labor gain instead of chasing technology.

A new product launch needs equipment running in six weeks, but the vendor's controls package doesn't meet plant standards. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold the line on standards while still protecting the launch date through negotiation and planning.

About the work

A machine faults out a few times a shift with no clear pattern. How would you track down the cause?

What they are checking: Whether they have a method for intermittent faults, using logging, trends and the I/O, instead of guessing.

How do you approach machine safety when you're commissioning new automated equipment? What standards or risk tools do you lean on?

What they are checking: Whether they treat guarding, safety circuits and risk assessment as part of the design rather than an afterthought.

How would you set up predictive maintenance on a critical machine using IIoT data? What would you actually measure?

What they are checking: Whether they know which signals predict failure and how to turn data into action for maintenance teams.

How do you decide between fixing a problem in the PLC logic versus changing the mechanical or electrical setup?

What they are checking: Whether they find the real root cause instead of writing code around a hardware problem that will return.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by BorgWarner.

Provide electrical, controls, automation, and machine-safety engineering support for manufacturing operations and new product launches. This role designs, develops, commissions, and improves control systems and automated equipment to enhance safety, quality, reliability, productivity, and customer satisfaction. The Controls Engineer also leads continuous-improvement initiatives, supports equipment investment and installation, and serves as a technical resource to manufacturing teams and technicians. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES: Controls and Automation Engineering • Design, develop, program, and improve PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications for manufacturing equipment and processes. • Develop and maintain electrical schematics, control-panel layouts, wiring diagrams, system configurations, operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, and training materials. • Integrate and support sensors, actuators, motors, machine-vision systems, industrial networks, robotics, and related automation technologies. • Lead automation and digitalization initiatives involving collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, Industrial Internet of Things technologies, advanced process analysis, and predictive maintenance. • Research and implement control-system, processing, and machine-safety best practices consistent with plant standards and control policies. Equipment Launch, Commissioning, and Support • Support equipment design reviews, selection, quotation, installation, commissioning, debugging, testing, and production launch activities. • Coordinate manufacturing technicians, suppliers, contractors, and cross-functional partners during new-equipment installations, upgrades, and product launches. • Travel to supplier locations as needed for equipment inspections, acceptance testing, installations, and launch support. • Diagnose control and equipment issues and coordinate maintenance, repairs, calibration, modifications, and restoration of production capability. • Evaluate and justify new equipment and process investments, coordinate implementation, and support tracking of tooling and appropriation-request expenditures. Manufacturing Quality and Continuous Improvement • Analyze engineering specifications and manufacturing processes to create/develop test plans, automated test tools, and verification of equipment. • Support end-of-line (EOL) test systems and validate product performance against customer requirements. • Investigate product and process quality issues, identify root causes, and validate corrective actions through documented testing and analysis. • Plan and perform process studies, design of experiments, capability evaluations, and other technical analyses. • Partner with manufacturing and product engineering teams to improve equipment safety, quality, capability, utilization, reliability, and cost performance. • Support new product introductions, current-product changes, and continuous-improvement projects. Technical Leadership, Documentation, and Safety • Provide technical direction, training, and support to technicians, manufacturing teams, peers, and new team members. • Prepare and deliver technical presentations to customers, employees, and management, and coordinate outside contract projects. • Establish and maintain effective equipment, process, and control-system documentation. • Develop work procedures that reduce operational risk, train employees on those procedures, and support consistent application. • Support workplace inspections, incident investigations, root-cause corrective actions, safety meetings, training, and timely closure of identified safety issues. • Comply with applicable safety standards, industry regulations, company policies, and standard manufacturing practices. • Participate in cross-functional teams, including Production Teams and AQP Steering Committee activities, to achieve safety, quality, launch, and continuous-improvement objectives. • Perform other duties as assigned. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: • Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics or related technical field from a four-year college or university. • 3+ years of experience in Industrial Automation, Controls, or Manufacturing Engineering (Internships or Co-Op experience included). • Ability to travel with minimal notification may arise for 5-10%. KEY JOB SKILLS/EXPERIENCE: • PLC programming and troubleshooting experience with Siemens and/or Allen-Bradley platforms. • Experience developing or supporting HMI and SCADA applications; Ignition experience preferred. • Experience with machine-vision systems such as Cognex or Keyence. • Working knowledge of industrial robots, including Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or similar platforms. • Knowledge of electrical circuits, control-panel design, and the ability to read and interpret electrical schematics. • Knowledge of industrial communication protocols and networks, including Ethernet/IP, Modbus, and Profinet. • Familiarity with industrial digitalization, IIoT concepts, and data-driven process monitoring. • Programming or data-query experience using SQL, Python, C++, ladder logic, or comparable languages. • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. • Effective communication, collaboration, project coordination, and technical-documentation skills. • Ability to learn and apply new automation, controls, robotics, and manufacturing technologies. For a listing of Dixon openings: BorgWarner Openings Pay & Benefits Annual Salary Range: $ 70,400 - $ 96,800 Benefit info: U.S. Benefits - BorgWarner Some of the benefits highlights below for all fulltime employees: • Day 1 Medical Coverage with potential of no monthly premium • Onsite Health Clinic for employees and dependents (age 14 and over) at no cost • Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Coverage • Tuition Reimbursement Program after 18 months • Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with a matching program • Company paid holidays and vacation starting Day 1 - Salary Range: $70,400 - $96,800 Internal Use Only: Salary Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement Carefully read the BorgWarner Privacy Policy before using this website. Your ability to access and use this website and apply for a job at BorgWarner are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms. Please access the linked document by clicking here , select the geographical area where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms. Career Scam Disclaimer: BorgWarner makes no representations or guarantees regarding employment opportunities listed on any third-party website. To protect against career scams, job applicants should take the necessary precautions when interviewing for and accepting employment positions allegedly offered by BorgWarner. Applicants should never provide their national ID numbers, birth dates, credit card numbers, bank account information or other private information when communicating with prospective employers or responding to employment opportunities online. Job applicants are invited to contact BorgWarner through BorgWarner’s website to verify the authenticity of any employment opportunities.

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