Controls Engineer

Actalent; Grand Ledge (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

HSA Transportation benefits

PTO/Vacation/Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer in Grand Ledge, MI to lead cradle-to-grave electrical control system design including schematics, panel layouts, and I/O wiring. The role requires creating hydraulic/pneumatic designs and developing PLC/HMI software using Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal.

Expect ~25% travel and on-site work. You will select sensors, VFDs, motors, vision systems, and safety components, while leading small to mid-sized projects and delivering clear operator manuals to

Qualifications

• 3+ years of PLC programming from scratch, specifically Studio 5000.
• 3+ years of experience with HMI, specifically FactoryTalk.
• 3+ years of experience with AutoCAD Electrical or SolidWorks Electrical.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical control systems including schematics, panel layouts, and I/O wiring diagrams using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Create hydraulic and pneumatic circuits for machine functionality.
• Develop PLC and HMI software using Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal.
• Select and integrate sensors, VFDs, servo motors, vision systems, and safety components.
• Lead commissioning and debugging phases at plant and customer sites, requiring approximately 25% travel.
• Manage small to medium projects, ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget.
• Author comprehensive operator and maintenance manuals for customer handoff.

Skills

PLC Studio 5000

HMI FactoryTalk

CAD Electrical

Travel 25%

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

SolidWorks Electrical

Job description

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Job Description

Cradle to grave controls engineering projects, designing and documenting electrical control systems, including schematics, panel layouts, and I/O wiring, as well as creating hydraulic and pneumatic designs to support machine operation.

This person will oversee small to mid sized projects to ensure schedules, budgets, and deliverables are met, and prepare detailed operator and maintenance documentation to support long-term customer use.

• 25% Travel

Responsibilities

• Design electrical control systems including schematics, panel layouts, and I/O wiring diagrams using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Create hydraulic and pneumatic circuits for machine functionality.
• Develop PLC and HMI software using Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal.
• Select and integrate sensors, VFDs, servo motors, vision systems, and safety components.
• Lead commissioning and debugging phases at plant and customer sites, requiring approximately 25% travel.
• Manage small to medium projects, ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget.
• Author comprehensive operator and maintenance manuals for customer handoff.

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of PLC programming from scratch, specifically Studio 5000.
• 3+ years of experience with HMI, specifically FactoryTalk.
• 3+ years of experience with AutoCAD Electrical or SolidWorks Electrical.
• Ability to travel 25% of the time.

Work Environment

Hours: Monday to Friday, with a flexible start time centered around core hours of 08:00-5:00 p.m.

The engineer may begin their workday earlier, but not later than 08:00.

The company offers a small-company feel with the backing of a financially robust organization, ensuring ample investment in equipment and training.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grand Ledge, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.06 - $55.29/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Ledge,MI.

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.