Controls Engineer

Actalent; Alabama; On-site; USD 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is hiring a Jr. Controls Engineer to join their Kennedy Space Center team, working onsite in Florida. The role blends office and field duties, commissioning PLC-based automation, integrating SCADA platforms, and supporting mission-critical launch infrastructure.

You will collaborate with engineers and technicians to troubleshoot, validate instrumentation, and ensure safe, reliable operation of advanced systems in a fast-paced environment. Onsite contract-to-hire position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 6 to 18 months of relevant experience in controls, automation, instrumentation, or industrial systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals including power distribution and control systems.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, control diagrams, and wiring drawings.
• Exposure to industrial automation and PLC-based control systems.
• Experience with Siemens PLCs or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with SCADA systems and PLC communications.
• Understanding of Profinet, Modbus, or EtherNet/IP networking.
• Hands-on work in field engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Commission, configure, and activate PLC-based automation and control systems.
• Validate functionality, communications, instrumentation, and performance in the field.
• Integrate PLCs, SCADA, remote I/O, and networking architectures.
• Perform startup, testing, and troubleshooting for installed equipment.
• Update schematics, drawings, and documentation reflecting field changes.
• Analyze data to identify reliability improvements and optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate with technicians, operations, vendors, and engineers.

Skills

Field engineering

Electrical schematics

Industrial networking

Siemens PLCs

SCADA

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechatronics/Computer Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLCs

Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell

SCADA platforms

EPLAN/AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Jr. Controls Engineer

Launch Critical Automation & Control Systems

Are you an early-career engineer who enjoys working directly with hardware, automation systems, and real-world industrial operations? This is an exciting opportunity to play a hands‑on role in commissioning, activating, and supporting the advanced control systems that power critical launch infrastructure.

As an Electrical Controls Engineer, you'll move beyond traditional design work and into the field where systems come to life. You'll work alongside experienced engineers, technicians, and operations teams to deploy PLC-based automation, integrate control systems, troubleshoot complex challenges, and ensure mission‑critical equipment performs safely and reliably.

This role is ideal for engineers who love solving technical problems, working with cutting‑edge automation technologies, and seeing the direct impact of their work on highly advanced industrial and aerospace‑related operations.

What You’ll Do

• Commission, configure, and activate PLC‑based industrial automation and process control systems.
• Bring new control systems online by validating functionality, communications, instrumentation, and operational performance.
• Integrate PLCs, SCADA platforms, remote I/O systems, and industrial networking architectures.
• Perform startup, checkout, testing, and troubleshooting activities for newly installed equipment and control systems.
• Verify instrumentation, sensors, valve controls, and process equipment to ensure accurate operation.
• Support operational readiness of critical launch and fluid handling infrastructure.
• Conduct field investigations and system walkdowns to confirm installations align with engineering drawings and P&IDs.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, instrumentation, and networking issues in the field.
• Collaborate closely with technicians, operations personnel, vendors, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Participate in equipment acceptance testing, commissioning activities, and system performance validation.
• Update electrical schematics, control drawings, and system documentation to reflect field changes and improvements.
• Analyze operational data to identify reliability improvements and optimization opportunities.
• Help drive continuous improvement initiatives across automation, controls, and data acquisition systems.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

• Work on advanced automation systems that support cutting‑edge launch and operational infrastructure.
• Gain hands‑on experience with real‑world industrial controls, instrumentation, and process systems.
• See projects through implementation, startup, commissioning, and operation.
• Collaborate with experienced engineers and industry professionals in a fast‑paced, highly technical environment.
• Build expertise with leading automation technologies including Siemens, Rockwell Automation, SCADA platforms, industrial networking, and advanced instrumentation.
• Develop skills that are highly transferable across aerospace, energy, manufacturing, utilities, semiconductor, and industrial automation industries.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 6 to 18 months of relevant experience through internships, co‑ops, research, academic projects, or industry roles involving controls, automation, instrumentation, or industrial systems. (Able to explain your experience and brands of PLC's used)
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, including power distribution, electrical troubleshooting, circuit protection, and control systems.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, control diagrams, and wiring drawings.
• Exposure to industrial automation and PLC‑based control systems.
• Experience with Siemens PLCs or similar industrial automation platforms.
• Familiarity with SCADA systems and PLC communications.
• Understanding of industrial networking technologies such as Profinet, Modbus, or EtherNet/IP.
• Working knowledge of instrumentation, remote I/O systems, sensors, automated valves, and process control concepts.
• Ability and desire to work in a hands‑on field engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Siemens and/or Allen‑Bradley (Rockwell) PLC platforms.
• Exposure to manufacturing, utilities, energy, semiconductor, aerospace, or industrial process environments.
• Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, or integrating industrial control systems.
• Familiarity with electrical design software such as EPLAN or AutoCAD Electrical.
• Experience working with P&IDs and process control documentation.

Work Environment

This position combines office‑based engineering with significant hands‑on field involvement. You'll spend time working directly with instrumentation, control panels, PLC systems, and operational equipment in a dynamic industrial environment.

Technology You’ll Encounter Includes

• Siemens and Allen‑Bradley/Rockwell PLC platforms
• SCADA and data acquisition systems
• Profinet, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP networks
• Industrial instrumentation and process controls
• EPLAN and AutoCAD Electrical

If you're passionate about automation, controls, commissioning, and solving real‑world engineering challenges, this role offers a unique opportunity to accelerate your career while supporting some of the most advanced industrial systems in operation today.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $41.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Kennedy Space Center,FL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 22, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.