Controls Engineer

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak; Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay progression

Health and Safety priority

Tuition Assistance Program

Retirement plan with matching

Paid holidays and vacation

Wellness Program

Job summary

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak in Chicago Heights, IL, is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC-based control systems in our heavy manufacturing setting.

You will develop HMIs, collaborate with maintenance and production teams, and ensure safety and quality standards while delivering reliable automation improvements. A Bachelor's in manufacturing-related engineering and 3+ years in industry are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing related engineering or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years in industrial manufacturing or automation.
• Experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens).
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical docs.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC-based control systems.
• Develop, modify, and maintain HMIs and control interfaces.
• Collaborate to reduce downtime and support commissioning and startup.
• Ensure safety, environmental and quality standards are met.
• Create and maintain technical documentation and narratives.
• Provide on-site or on-call support as needed.

Skills

PLC programming

Industrial automation

Troubleshooting

Electrical schematics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in manufacturing related engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

HMI/SCADA

Job description

Join Our Team at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak!

Embark on a rewarding career journey with voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak, North America's premier designer and manufacturer of special trackwork. With a legacy spanning 160 years, we lead the industry in shaping the future of rail solutions. As part of the voestalpine Railway Systems global network, we are committed to delivering quality products and services, including rails, turnouts, fastening systems, signaling technologies, and monitoring solutions. Operating with a presence across Canada, the US, and Mexico, we prioritize the well-being of our people, global mobility, and sustainability and innovation.

Our people are the foundation of our success. Skilled, motivated, and results-driven individuals shape our culture demonstrating our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Curiosity, Courage, Passion, and Diversity each day. This commitment is more than shared values; it extends to shared responsibilities for safety and quality, showing genuine care for one another's growth and development, a commitment to our customers, and fostering strong relationships within the Nortrak Team and with our customers.

We are currently looking for a Controls Engineer to join our team in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Purpose of Position

The Controls Engineer’s primary focus will be to support, maintain, and improve industrial automation systems within our manufacturing operations. This role plays a critical part in ensuring equipment reliability, optimizing production performance, and supporting new and existing automation technologies across the facility.

Safety

• Comply with and enforces all Nortrak safety policies and regulations.

Quality

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC-based control systems.
• Develop, modify, and maintain HMI and control system interfaces.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, automation, and control-related issues.
• Support commissioning, startup, and optimization of manufacturing equipment.
• Ensure control systems comply with safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, schematics, and control narratives.

On-time Delivery

• Collaborate with maintenance, production, and engineering teams to reduce downtime.

Cost

• Support continuous improvement initiatives and automation upgrades.

People

• Must be able to work with production and maintenance personnel, vendors and other Nortrak plant personnel in a team-oriented environment.

Environmental

• Adhere to Nortrak's Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in a manufacturing related engineering field or equivalent experience.

Required Experience

• 3+ years of experience in an industrial manufacturing or automation environment.
• Experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens preferred).
• Knowledge of industrial networks, sensors, drives, and control devices.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Occasional off-shift or on-call support may be required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with HMIs, SCADA systems, and industrial communication protocols.
• Knowledge of VFDs, motion control, and machine safety systems.
• Experience supporting heavy industrial or manufacturing equipment.
• Exposure to commissioning and capital project support.

Physical Demand

• Work is primarily performed in a manufacturing environment.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing and walking for your scheduled shift.
• Must remain stationary for extended periods and move throughout the building to access files.
• Ability to lift and move equipment or objects up to 20-25 pounds occasionally.
• Visual requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional travel required, involving walking, standing, sitting, and driving for varying durations.
• Site inspections required to identify and address safety concerns.
• Frequent use of hands and arms for dialling phones and using a computer mouse.

Working Location

Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Salary

• $80,000/year - $100,000/year

Benefits

• A supportive, family oriented Nortrak Blue culture
• We provide an environment where Health and Safety is our #1 priority.
• Career development opportunities and competitive pay progression
• Company paid life and disability insurance.
• Paid holidays and vacation.
• Retirement plan with matching contributions
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak (“Nortrak”) is a subsidiary of voestalpine AG ( www.voestalpine.com ) one of Europe’s premier steel producers with over 50,000 employees worldwide. Nortrak is closely affiliated with voestalpine’s Railway Systems group which operates in 21 countries across the globe to provide cutting edge system-based solutions to railroads and transits. Our website is https://www.voestalpine.com/nortrak/en/

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, and any other federal, state, or locally protected classifications.