Controls Engineer

Trueline; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company matching

Company-paid life and AD&D insurance

Company-paid disability benefits

Employee Ownership Program

HSA-compatible plan options

Job summary

Trueline, a major manufacturer, seeks a Controls Engineer to join its engineering team in Erie, PA. This onsite role covers the controls and automation behind a large-scale operation, including PLC programming, troubleshooting, system integration, commissioning, and continuous improvement.

You'll work directly with production equipment and cross‑functional engineering teams to solve real-time manufacturing problems while owning plant automation improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 3-5+ years of controls engineering in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC platforms.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause problem-solving.
• Ability to manage several projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of safety standards and plant codes.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, modify, and troubleshoot PLC-based control systems.
• Support automation across complex equipment and processes.
• Integrate sensors, actuators, and controls into systems.
• Diagnose controls problems affecting uptime, quality, or production.
• Test, validate, and commission new or modified control systems.
• Support installation and startup of new equipment.
• Maintain electrical schematics, PLC logic, and documentation.
• Interpret equipment specs into operating and controls requirements.
• Collaborate with Process Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Operations, and vendors.
• Evaluate new controls/automation technologies.
• Support product/process introductions from automation perspective.
• Drive continuous improvement in reliability and efficiency.
• Ensure safety standards, codes, and plant requirements.
• Manage multiple automation projects simultaneously.

Skills

PLC programming

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional teamwork

Root-cause analysis

Electrical schematics

Safety compliance

Project management

Reading P&IDs

Industrial networks

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Control Systems Engineering degree

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Industrial sensors/actuators

HMI/SCADA

Job description

Trueline, a major manufacturer, is seeking a Controls Engineer to join its engineering team in Erie, PA. This is an onsite engineering role responsible for the controls and automation behind a large-scale manufacturing operation, including PLC programming, troubleshooting, system integration, commissioning, and continuous improvement.

You'll work directly with production equipment and cross-functional engineering teams to solve real-time manufacturing problems while also bringing new equipment and technologies online. It's a strong opportunity for a controls engineer who wants both hands-on troubleshooting and meaningful ownership of plant automation improvements.

What You'll Do as the Controls Engineer:

• Design, program, modify, and troubleshoot PLC-based industrial control systems
• Support automation across complex manufacturing equipment and production processes
• Integrate sensors, actuators, controls, and other field devices into automated systems
• Diagnose controls and automation problems that impact equipment uptime, reliability, quality, or production
• Test, validate, and commission new or modified control systems
• Support installation and startup of new manufacturing equipment and technology
• Maintain electrical schematics, PLC logic, control documentation, and system configurations
• Interpret equipment specifications and translate them into practical operating and controls requirements
• Partner with Process Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Operations, and equipment vendors to solve technical issues
• Evaluate new controls and automation technologies that can improve manufacturing capability
• Support new product and process introductions from an automation and manufacturability perspective
• Drive continuous improvement in equipment reliability, system performance, and manufacturing efficiency
• Ensure controls and electrical work meets applicable safety standards, codes, and plant requirements
• Manage multiple automation and controls projects simultaneously

Must-Haves as the Controls Engineer:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3-5+ years of controls engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting experience
• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or comparable industrial PLC platforms
• Ability to diagnose controls problems directly at production equipment
• Experience integrating industrial sensors, actuators, and control devices
• Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs
• Experience testing, validating, and commissioning control systems
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage several projects and competing plant priorities simultaneously
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with engineering, operations, maintenance, vendors, and technicians
• Working knowledge of industrial safety and compliance requirements

Nice-to-Haves as the Controls Engineer:

• Advanced Allen-Bradley controls experience
• Siemens experience
• Robotics programming or integration experience
• CNC or machining automation experience
• Experience with forging, metal forming, heat treatment, coating, or similar manufacturing equipment
• Automotive or commercial vehicle manufacturing experience
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience
• Previous experience in a union manufacturing environment

We Offer:

• Base salary of $100,000-$115,000 annually, depending on experience
• Opportunity to own automation and controls work across a sophisticated manufacturing operation
• Hands-on involvement in both existing equipment improvement and new technology implementation
• Significant exposure to manufacturing equipment, robotics, PLCs, machining, and automation
• Medical coverage with PPO and HSA-compatible plan options
• Dental and vision coverage
• Company HSA contributions and additional matching opportunity for eligible plan participants
• 401(k) with company matching opportunity
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
• Company-paid disability benefits for eligible employees
• Employee Assistance Program and financial wellness resources
• Participation in the company's employee ownership program at no personal cost
• Opportunity to join an operation investing in automation, manufacturing technology, and future production capability

Trueline is an unabashed equal-opportunity employers committed to a diverse workforce. We welcome smart and ambitious applicants and recruit, refer, hire, place, and promote without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.