Control Engineer

Sterling Engineering; Westbrook (ME); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering seeks a Controls Engineer to design, program, and troubleshoot PLC/HMI/VFD based control systems for custom automation equipment. You will develop electrical schematics and control architectures, and support commissioning from in-house to customer sites.

You will collaborate with mechanical, manufacturing, and customer teams on project lifecycles, ensuring solutions meet requirements and deliverables while working within a dynamic OEM environment.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and troubleshooting PLC, HMI, and VFD systems.
• Ability to develop electrical schematics and control architectures.
• Experience with commissioning and testing at customer sites.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, VFD, and industrial control systems for custom equipment and automated machinery.
• Develop electrical schematics, control system architectures, and automation solutions that meet customer and project requirements.
• Commission, test, and debug equipment both in-house and at customer facilities.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers, manufacturing teams, and customers throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI design

VFD control

Electrical schematics

Control system design

Motion control

Robotics integration

Process automation

Automation engineering

Customer collaboration

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Ethernet/IP

Modbus

ProfiNet

DeviceNet

Job description

We're seeking a Controls Engineer to join a growing engineering team responsible for developing and supporting custom industrial equipment used in demanding manufacturing environments. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex automation projects from concept through commissioning while collaborating with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and customers.

What You'll Do

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, VFD, and industrial control systems for custom equipment and automated machinery.
• Develop electrical schematics, control system architectures, and automation solutions that meet customer and project requirements.
• Commission, test, and debug equipment both in-house and at customer facilities.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers, manufacturing teams, and customers throughout the project lifecycle.

Why This Opportunity?

• Work on custom-designed equipment instead of repetitive plant maintenance projects.
• Be involved in the complete machine lifecycle from design through commissioning.
• Collaborate with a highly skilled engineering team on technically challenging projects.
• Join a stable, growing organization with opportunities for long-term career advancement and technical development.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working for an OEM, machine builder, systems integrator, or custom automation company.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus, ProfiNet, or DeviceNet.
• Experience with motion control, servo systems, robotics, or process automation.
• Ability to read and develop electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical or similar design software.