Automation Controls Engineer

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.; Hamilton Township (NJ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A staffing agency is seeking an experienced Automation Controls Engineer in Hamilton Township, NJ. You will design, program, and support control systems, ensuring compliance with safety and electrical standards. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and proficiency in PLC programming. This role involves integrating robotics and developing user-friendly interfaces in a manufacturing facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related technical field.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and experience with robotics.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and debug PLC and HMI control systems.
• Integrate and commission industrial robots.
• Develop user-friendly HMI and SCADA interfaces.

Skills

PLC programming (Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Function Block)

Robotics and motion control technologies

Industrial communication protocols (Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, Profibus, Modbus)

Hydraulic and pneumatic systems

Microsoft Office®

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

C programming

Visual Basic

SQL

Job description

Seeking an experienced Automation Controls Engineer to design, program, and support control systems that meet the automation needs of a production environment. The role involves developing and integrating PLC, HMI, robotics, and data acquisition systems while ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and electrical standards.

General Duties

• Follow all environmental, health, and safety rules; report hazards, near-misses, and injuries immediately.
• Participate in developing and reviewing risk assessments annually.
• Write and interpret machine and vendor specifications.
• Design safety systems compliant with NEC, NFPA 79, NFPA 70E, OSHA, and RIA standards.
• Support Maintenance and Production teams with complex troubleshooting and process improvements.

Technical Duties

• Design, program, and debug PLC and HMI control systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.).
• Integrate and commission industrial robots (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa).
• Develop user-friendly HMI and SCADA interfaces for system control and monitoring.
• Design, program, and tune motion control systems including DC drives, VFDs, and servos.
• Create and maintain electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical or similar CAD tools.
• Calculate electrical power requirements for machines and automation systems.
• Design and implement data acquisition (DAQ) systems for process monitoring.
• Program data systems using C, Visual Basic, and SQL; connect DAQ systems to SQL servers and generate reports.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for automation-related issues.
• Document all control logic, robotic operations, and safety systems for maintenance and future upgrades.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Proficiency in PLC programming (Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Function Block).
• Experience with robotics and motion control technologies preferred.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols: Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, Profibus, Modbus.
• Working knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office® and relevant engineering tools.
• Onsite, Monday through Friday, in a manufacturing facility.

Keywords

Positions available nationwide in Electrical, Mechanical, Automation, Controls, Robotics, Vision Systems Engineers, and Mission Critical.