Senior Controls & Automation Architect

General Overview

Job Title: Senior Controls & Automation Architect

Requisition ID: 140431

Location: Monterrey (Apodaca), Nuevo León, Mexico

Area: Celestica Global Automation (CGA)

Level / Band: Band 10 (Senior Technical Lead)

Summary

As part of the Celestica Global Automation (CGA) team in Monterrey, Mexico, you are a Senior Controls & Automation Architect driving the end-to-end development, architecture definition, procurement management, implementation, and optimization of standard and customized manufacturing automation systems. Celestica is committed to empowering engineering talent through structured execution pathways designed to elevate machine controls, robotics integration, safety compliance, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Our core goal is to accelerate operational growth toward world-class automation deployment across high-tech manufacturing verticals (EMS, medical, industrial, aerospace, and communications).

In this role, you will operate across a strategic execution model comprising 60% Turn-Key projects with global automation integrators—governed, architected, and validated by our Controls team—and 40% In-House engineering developments with full internal controls logic, HMI, and cell integration design. You will serve as the principal technical authority and controls architect, bridging hardware design with hands-on shop-floor commissioning, defined User Requirement Specifications (URS) authoring, supplier technical evaluations, multi-vendor PLC modular programming, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). You will report directly to the Senior Manager of Automation Engineering in Monterrey, Mexico.

Detailed Description

Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Technical Scoping & Architecture Definition: Collaborates with operations, quality, industrial engineering, and product introduction teams to define control architecture, cycle time targets, takt-time requirements, and communication topologies for high-speed multi-station automated lines.

• Requirements Documentation & Governance (RFQ, URS, SOW): Authors, audits, and enforces rigorous User Requirement Specifications (URS), Statements of Work (SOW), and Request for Quotation (RFQ) packages for turn-key custom automated machinery, robotic cells, and test equipment.

• Supplier Proposal Evaluation & Design Reviews: Conducts comprehensive technical evaluations of vendor controls proposals, hardware bills of materials (BOM), multi-line electrical schematics, network segmentations, and safety interlock design matrices prior to fabrication release.

• In-House PLC & Controls Software Architecture: Leads in-house software development from scratch, programming robust modular logic using reusable Function Blocks (FBs), User-Defined Data Types (UDTs), and Add-On Instructions (AOIs) across Siemens S7-1500 (TIA Portal), Rockwell Automation (Studio 5000), and Keyence (KV Series) platforms.

• Safety Functional Architecture & Standards Compliance: Architects, parameterizes, and validates integrated functional safety systems (PROFIsafe / CIP Safety) under ISO 13849-1 (PLe/Cat 4) and IEC 62061 (SIL 3), configuring safety PLCs, optical light curtains, area laser scanners, dual-channel safety door interlocks, etc.

• Industrial Digitalization & SCADA/MES Connectivity: Configures real-time industrial supervision, telemetry, and automated OEE tracking using Inductive Automation Ignition, WinCC Unified, or FactoryTalk View SE, integrating SQL relational databases and OPC-UA communication bridges, and MES transferring data.

• Industrial Networking & Inter-System Synchronization: Implements and troubleshoots plant-floor industrial network topologies including PROFINET (RT/IRT with MRP media redundancy), EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, IO-Link master sensor parametrization, and direct TCP/IP socket communications.

• Motion Control, Robotics, Vision and Automation Integration: Parameterizes and tunes multi-axis servodrives (Siemens SINAMICS S120, Rockwell Kinetix), configures closed-loop PID control (temperature, dosing, precision press-fit), and establishes deterministic communication handshakes with industrial robots (FANUC, KUKA, ABB), cobots, Vision systems, and other kind of automation systems.

• Shop-Floor Commissioning, FAT/SAT & Ramp-Up: Directs and signs off on formal Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor facilities, and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) on the Monterrey plant floor. Leads post-launch stabilization, cycle time bottlenecks elimination, and preventive risk mitigation plans.

• Project Planning & CapEx Tracking

• Cross-Site Communication & Global Reporting

• Root-Cause Analysis & Technical Mentorship

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

• • Multi-Vendor PLC Mastery: Expert-level programming in at least two leading platforms: Siemens (TIA Portal S7-1500 / S7-1200), Rockwell Automation (Studio 5000 Logix Designer), or Keyence (KV Studio / KV Series). Proven capability to design structured modular code, standardized UDTs, AOIs, and remote I/O layouts (ET 200SP, Point I/O).

  • Functional Machine Safety: Demonstrated competence designing and auditing machine safety architectures under ISO 13849-1 (Performance Levels c/d/e, Categories 2/3/4) and IEC 62061. Direct programming of safety logic in PROFIsafe and CIP Safety environments.

  • SCADA, MES & IIoT: Hands-on deployment of plant-level SCADA platforms, with preferred mastery in Inductive Automation Ignition (Vision / Perspective), WinCC Unified, or FactoryTalk View SE. Practical competency in SQL queries, OPC-UA tags management, and recipe/batch management systems.

  • Industrial Communications: Advanced knowledge of fieldbus and Ethernet protocols: PROFINET (RT/IRT, MRP ring redundancy), EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, IO-Link master/device parametrization, and TCP/IP socket integration with machine vision cameras (Cognex, Keyence).

  • Motion Control & Robotics: Configuration, commissioning, and tuning of multi-axis servo drives (Siemens SINAMICS S120, Allen-Bradley Kinetix). Closed-loop PID tuning. Experience with robot integration handshakes (FANUC, KUKA, ABB) and cobots (Universal Robots).

  • Electrical & Pneumatic Schematics: Advanced ability to read, interpret, and audit multi-sheet industrial electrical schematics (EPLAN Electric P8, AutoCAD Electrical), power distribution panels, control cabinets, and pneumatic circuit diagrams (Festo, SMC).

  • Project Governance & Quality: Strong command of CapEx tracking, critical path scheduling, machine buy-off checksheets (FAT/SAT), structured problem solving (8D, Ishikawa, 5-Whys), and statistical analysis (Six Sigma Green Belt level preferred).

  • Bilingual Fluency & Leadership: Full professional bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (C1 level minimum, written and verbal) for technical vendor negotiations, executive presentations, and cross-site collaboration.

Physical Demands

• Position is 100% on-site.

• Expectation of travel is between 10% and 20% of the time.

• Physical presence on the production shop floor during commissioning, electrical cabinet troubleshooting, and line ramp-up phases.

Typical Experience

• Senior / Staff Lead Level: 7 to 10+ years of progressive, applied engineering experience in industrial automation, controls system design, equipment commissioning, or turn-key custom automated machinery integration.

• Demonstrated background leading multi-station automated cell integrations in high-reliability manufacturing sectors (Electronics Manufacturing Services / EMS, Automotive Tier-1, Medical Device Assembly, or Advanced Custom Automation Machine Builders).

Typical Education

• • Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Control & Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of formal education and applied engineering experience.

  • Master’s degree in Engineering, Automation, or Project Management is an asset.

  • Industry certifications (TÜV Functional Safety Engineer, PMP, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Siemens Certified Professional, Ignition Certified) are strongly valued.

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.