Automation Controls Engineer: PLC/SCADA Upgrades (Onsite TN)

Actalent; Tennessee; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA/FSA

EAP

401(k) with company match

PTO

Parental leave

Training and certification

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer in Kingsport, TN to design, program, and maintain industrial control systems, focusing on PLCs, HMIs, drives, and related electrical systems. You will collaborate with maintenance and production teams to improve uptime, reliability, and safety, while leading automation upgrades and integrations.

The role involves designing hardware/software for new projects, troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLCs, supporting Siemens systems, and developing SCADA/HMI solutions.

Qualifications

• Experience leading automation upgrades, retrofits, and integration of new equipment.
• Familiarity with safety and quality standards relevant to industrial control systems.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with maintenance, production, and drafting teams.
• Attention to detail in documenting control strategies, wiring diagrams, and system configurations.
• Organizational skills for coordinating multiple projects, maintenance activities, and contractor schedules.
• Competence with AC and DC drive systems in industrial settings.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop hardware and software solutions for new automation projects and maintenance repairs using sound engineering principles.
• Perform hardware and software design for PLCs, HMIs, AC and DC drives, and related control systems.
• Design, program, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLCs, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and RSLogix 5000 platforms.
• Support, maintain, and optimize Siemens automation systems used in manufacturing operations.
• Develop, configure, and maintain SCADA and HMI systems to monitor, control, and visualize production processes.
• Collaborate with maintenance and production teams to improve system reliability, increase uptime, and resolve control-related issues.
• Lead or assist in automation upgrades, retrofits, and integration of new equipment into existing control architectures.
• Ensure all control systems comply with applicable safety and quality standards and best practices.
• Document control strategies, wiring diagrams, system configurations, and updates for new and existing equipment.
• Manage and schedule maintenance personnel and outside contractors to complete projects and maintain equipment effectively.
• Interface with drafters or personally create and update electrical drawings and CAD layouts for projects and existing equipment.
• Set up, verify, and maintain spare parts lists required for new and existing equipment to support ongoing maintenance.
• Write and update preventative maintenance instructions for equipment and control systems.
• Apply strong knowledge of medium-voltage power systems to support design, operation, and maintenance of electrical infrastructure.
• Maintain, upgrade, and archive software used in the manufacturing process to ensure version control and system integrity.
• Perform or support arc flash analysis to enhance electrical safety and ensure proper labeling and documentation.

Skills

Automation upgrades

Safety standards

Team collaboration

Documentation

Project coordination

AC/DC drives

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens automation

SCADA/HMI systems

Electrical CAD

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer in Kingsport, TN to design, program, and maintain industrial control systems, focusing on PLCs, HMIs, drives, and related electrical systems. You will collaborate with maintenance and production teams to improve uptime, reliability, and safety, while leading automation upgrades and integrations.

The role involves designing hardware/software for new projects, troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLCs, supporting Siemens systems, and developing SCADA/HMI solutions.