Control System Engineer

Sterling Engineering; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 54,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering, based near Philadelphia, seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to own automation system solutions from concept through commissioning. You will coordinate with customers and internal teams to deliver high-performance conveyor and material-handling systems.

The role requires 7+ years in industrial automation, strong troubleshooting and communication, and the ability to read complex schematics. On-site work in PA with periodic travel and project ownership opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years in industrial automation, custom machinery, conveying, material handling, packaging, or similar environments.
• Experience with integrated automated equipment and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and controls documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop system concepts and technical solutions for custom conveyor, material-handling, and automation projects.
• Collaborate with customers, project management, mechanical, electrical, and controls teams.
• Coordinate integration of mechanical, electrical, and controls components into complete automated systems.
• Support equipment selection, system design reviews, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, installation, and commissioning.
• Provide technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle and resolve engineering challenges.
• Travel periodically to customer sites for startup, troubleshooting, and system acceptance.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Communication

Customer-facing skills

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline

Tools

PLCs

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell

Siemens

VFDs

Robotics

Vision systems

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer – Custom Automation & Conveyor Systems

Location: North of Philadelphia, PA

Pay: Up to $65/hour W-2

Employment: Contract-to-Hire or Direct Hire

Interested in engineering complete automation systems—not just individual components?

We’re seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to join an automation integrator specializing in custom conveyor, material-handling, and automated equipment solutions.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of complex engineering projects from initial concept through system integration, testing, installation, and commissioning. You’ll collaborate with customers and multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop solutions that improve throughput, reliability, safety, and overall system performance.

What You’ll Do

• Develop system concepts and technical solutions for custom conveyor, material-handling, and automation projects.


• Collaborate with customers, project management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and controls teams.


• Coordinate the integration of mechanical, electrical, and controls components into complete automated systems.


• Support equipment selection, system design reviews, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.


• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), installation, and commissioning.


• Provide technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle and help resolve complex engineering challenges.


• Travel periodically to customer sites for startup, troubleshooting, and system acceptance.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.


• 7+ years of experience in industrial automation, custom machinery, conveying, material handling, packaging, or similar environments.


• Experience with integrated automated equipment and collaboration across mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering.


• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and controls documentation.


• Experience supporting projects from concept through installation and commissioning.


• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing skills.

Additional experience with PLCs, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, VFDs, robotics, vision systems, and engineered-to-order equipment is a plus.

Interested in Learning More?