Automation Controls Engineer

GCS Recruitment Specialists; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment Specialists is seeking an Automation Controls Engineer to design, develop, and optimize industrial automation systems in a contract setting in San Francisco, CA. The candidate will program PLCs, develop HMI/SCADA, and integrate control networks.

You will collaborate with electrical, mechanical and operations teams, perform commissioning, FAT/SAT, and contribute to upgrades and process improvements while traveling as needed.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical/Controls/Automation or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Hands-on PLC programming with AB, Siemens, or CODESYS.
• Experience with SCADA/HMI: Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC, Wonderware.
• Knowledge of industrial networks and protocols.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Willingness to travel for commissioning and site support.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems.
• Develop and maintain HMI/SCADA applications.
• Configure and integrate industrial communication protocols.
• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, and sequences.
• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT activities, startup and deployment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams.
• Develop technical documentation including specs, tests, SOPs.
• Perform root cause analysis and ongoing troubleshooting for controls.
• Assist with system upgrades, migrations, and process improvements.

Skills

PLC Programming

HMI/SCADA

Industrial Networks

System Integration

Commissioning

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical/Controls/Automation

Equivalent Experience

Tools

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

Siemens TIA Portal

CODESYS

Ignition

FactoryTalk View

WinCC

Wonderware

Job description

Automation Controls Engineer

Job Title: Automation Controls Engineer
Location: San Fransico, CA
Duration: 12+ months Contract

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Automation Controls Engineer to support the design, development, implementation, and optimization of industrial automation systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, industrial networking, system integration, and commissioning within manufacturing or process control environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems using platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or CODESYS.
• Develop and maintain HMI and SCADA applications for monitoring and controlling automated processes.
• Configure and integrate industrial communication protocols including EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and Profinet.
• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, and sequences of operation for automated equipment.
• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT activities, startup, and production deployment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams to deliver automation projects.
• Develop technical documentation including functional specifications, test plans, and operating procedures.
• Perform root cause analysis and provide ongoing troubleshooting and support for control systems.
• Assist with system upgrades, migrations, and process improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Hands-on experience programming PLCs using Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, or CODESYS.
• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC, or Wonderware.
• Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical drawings.
• Willingness to travel for commissioning and site support as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with motion control, VFDs, servo systems, and safety PLCs.
• Knowledge of MES, IIoT, and cloud-based industrial technologies.
• Experience with Python, SQL, or other scripting languages.
• Familiarity with Git version control and software development best practices.
• Exposure to material handling, warehouse automation, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing environments.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.