Automation Controls Engineer - PLC & WCS Specialist

OnTrac; Lockbourne (OH); On-site; USD 117,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) match

Paid time off

Floating holidays

Sick leave

Parental leave

Job summary

OnTrac is hiring a Control Systems Engineer in Columbus, OH to maintain and optimize PLC and WCS programs across its automated parcel handling network. The role emphasizes reliability, fault recovery, and scalable controls with close collaboration with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, and OEM partners.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years in automation/controls, plus proficiency with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and safety interlocks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related technical discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 4 years of experience in automation and controls for facilities, conveyor systems, automated material handling, or sortation equipment.
• Proficiency with PLCs (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell), HMIs, SCADA systems, and safety interlocks.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Keep automation running at peak reliability: Support, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC and WCS systems for conveyor lines, sortation equipment, dimensioners, and other automated systems to improve uptime and stability.
• Build and maintain robust PLC logic: Develop and maintain PLC programs (primarily Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell) that ensure reliable operation and strong fault recovery behavior.
• Implement improvements with engineering and OEM partners: Collaborate on controls revisions and software updates that improve throughput, recovery performance, and system consistency.
• Support commissioning and integration: Assist with commissioning, controls validation, and integration testing for new automation deployments and retrofits.
• Keep controls documentation accurate and current: Maintain IO lists, electrical schematics, network diagrams, and control panel layouts to support standardized operation and troubleshooting.
• Enable frontline success and safe operation: Work with site technicians to resolve complex faults, train on basic troubleshooting, and ensure compliance with safety and operational standards (e-stops, lockout/tagout logic, interlocks).

Skills

Automation & controls experience

PLCs/HMIs/SCADA

Travel up to 50%

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related technical discipline or equivalent

Tools

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell

HMI/SCADA

Job description

OnTrac is hiring a Control Systems Engineer in Columbus, OH to maintain and optimize PLC and WCS programs across its automated parcel handling network. The role emphasizes reliability, fault recovery, and scalable controls with close collaboration with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, and OEM partners.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years in automation/controls, plus proficiency with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and safety interlocks.