Controls & Automation Engineer

Sterling Engineering Inc.; Delavan (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering Inc. in Delavan, WI is seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to design and develop advanced control systems for process equipment.

You will work on hardware, firmware, PLC and HMI programming, and industrial communications to enable smarter, connected automation solutions. You will lead projects from concept through validation and manufacturing handoff, collaborating with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to drive product development and reliability in the food &

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of automation engineering experience in process equipment industries preferred.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience with HMI/SCADA platforms like Allen-Bradley, Siemens, FactoryTalk, Ignition, or Wonderware.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems and electronic modules for process equipment and valve control applications.
• Develop hardware and firmware solutions for control units, including PCB layouts and microcontroller programming.
• Develop PLC and HMI programs, control narratives, I/O lists, and instrumentation specifications.
• Program and integrate industrial communication technologies including IO-Link, AS-i, DeviceNet, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, OPC UA, Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, and MQTT.
• Design and implement IIoT solutions for real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• Develop PC-based interface tools for equipment setup, diagnostics, and troubleshooting.
• Create and execute verification and validation test plans for functional samples and production equipment.
• Lead automation and product development projects from concept through validation, industrial release, and manufacturing handoff.
• Participate in customer meetings, product launches, design reviews, and project progress reviews.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Electronic design

PCB layout

IoT/IIoT knowledge

Microcontroller programming

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

FactoryTalk

Ignition

Wonderware

Job description

Job Description

Job Description Title: Controls & Automation Engineer
Location: Delavan, WI
Pay Range: $110k-115k per year
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Industry: Food & Beverage / Industrial Automation Comprehensive Benefits Package

This is an exciting opportunity for an automation engineer who wants to move beyond traditional controls programming and play a significant role in product development, electronics, industrial communications, IIoT, and connected equipment. You’ll help develop innovative control solutions for pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and other process equipment while collaborating with engineering teams, customers, suppliers, and development partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems and electronic modules for process equipment and valve control applications
• Develop hardware and firmware solutions for control units, including PCB layouts and microcontroller programming
• Develop PLC and HMI programs, control narratives, I/O lists, and instrumentation specifications
• Program and integrate industrial communication technologies including IO-Link, AS-i, DeviceNet, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, OPC UA, Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, and MQTT
• Design and implement IIoT solutions for real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance
• Develop PC-based interface tools for equipment setup, diagnostics, and troubleshooting
• Create and execute verification and validation test plans for functional samples and production equipment
• Lead automation and product development projects from concept through validation, industrial release, and manufacturing handoff
• Participate in customer meetings, product launches, design reviews, and project progress reviews

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Must have 5+ years of automation engineering experience, preferably within food, beverage, sanitary, or process equipment industries
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience
• Experience with HMI/SCADA platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, FactoryTalk, Ignition, or Wonderware
• Strong understanding of electronic design, circuit design, PCBA layout, digital signal processing, and microcontroller programming
• Familiarity with IoT/IIoT technologies and industrial communication protocols

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Next-Generation Technology: Work at the intersection of automation, electronics, connectivity, and IIoT to develop smarter industrial equipment.
• Product Development Ownership: Help take new control technologies from concept through validation and production.
• Technical Variety: Combine PLCs, HMI/SCADA, embedded programming, PCB design, industrial networking, and connected-device technologies.
• Global Exposure: Collaborate with engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and development partners across a broad organization.
• High-Visibility Work: Your designs and technical decisions will directly influence the next generation of process equipment.
• Innovation-Focused Environment: Evaluate and implement emerging automation and connectivity technologies rather than simply maintaining existing systems.
• Career Growth: Expand your expertise across controls, electronics, IIoT, product development, and industrial automation.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.