Control Engineer

Starfish Partners; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Starfish Partners is seeking a hands-on Controls Engineer to program, troubleshoot, and commission real-world automation systems onsite with up to 25% travel.

You will work with PLCs, robots, and HMI/SCADA, lead system startups, and collaborate with engineering teams to deliver turnkey automation solutions that improve performance and throughput.

Qualifications

• Experience programming PLCs from scratch in live systems.
• Hands-on robotics integration and programming experience.
• Strong troubleshooting skills in automation environments.
• Knowledge of industrial networking protocols (EtherNet/IP, Profinet).
• Ability to read electrical schematics and drawings.
• Onsite availability with up to 25% travel.

Responsibilities

• Program and troubleshoot PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar).
• Work with industrial robots (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa).
• Develop and support HMI/SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC).
• Lead and support system startups, commissioning, and debugging.
• Integrate automation systems including motion, vision, and field devices.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to deliver turnkey automation solutions.
• Optimize system performance, cycle times, and throughput.

Skills

PLC programming from scratch

Robotics integration and programming

Automation troubleshooting

Industrial networks

Reading electrical schematics

Team collaboration

Tools

FactoryTalk

Ignition

WinCC

Job description

Are you a hands-on Controls Engineer who enjoys bringing automation systems to life?

We’re working with a growing, innovation-driven organization looking for someone who can program, troubleshoot, and commission real-world automation systems—not just sit behind a desk.

This is an onsite role with up to 25% travel, offering strong project exposure, cutting-edge technology, and the opportunity to make a direct impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Program and troubleshoot PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar)
• Work with industrial robots (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, etc.)
• Develop and support HMI/SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, etc.)
• Lead and support system startups, commissioning, and debugging
• Integrate automation systems including motion, vision, and field devices
• Collaborate with engineering teams to deliver turnkey automation solutions
• Optimize system performance, cycle times, and throughput

What We’re Looking For

• Experience with PLC programming from scratch
• Hands‑on robotics integration and programming experience
• Strong troubleshooting skills in automation/controls environments
• Knowledge of industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, etc.)
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical drawings

Nice to Have

• Experience with vision systems (Keyence, Cognex)
• Background in manufacturing, material handling, or packaging automation
• Exposure to multi-axis motion control
• Location: Onsite
• Travel: Up to 25%

Why This Role?

• Work on high-impact automation projects
• Be part of a growing, forward-thinking team
• Gain exposure to advanced robotics and control systems
• Real opportunity to own projects from concept through commissioning