Controls Engineer

Actalent; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, develop, implement, and support industrial control systems and HMI applications. You will work with customers and internal teams to create automation solutions, support projects, and oversee system implementation across the lifecycle.

The role emphasizes reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction, with opportunities to grow within a collaborative Controls Design & Engineering group in Harrisburg, PA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a technical discipline preferred.
• Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant controls experience considered.
• Experience with instrumentation, motor controls, sensors, and industrial automation systems.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, servo systems, and validation in a GMP environment.
• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, implement, and troubleshoot industrial control systems.
• Develop functional specifications and manage automation projects independently.
• Work directly with customers to ensure technical requirements are met.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Provide technical expertise and support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee system implementation to ensure performance and reliability.
• Support automation projects from design through commissioning.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI applications

reading schematics

P&IDs

troubleshooting

communication

driver's license

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Associate's Degree + 2 years experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Servo systems

GMP validation

Job description

Job Title: Controls Engineer Job Description

The Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, and supporting industrial control systems and HMI applications. This role involves working directly with customers and internal teams to develop automation solutions, support project execution, create functional specifications, and oversee system implementation. The Controls Engineer will support automation projects throughout their lifecycle while ensuring system performance, reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, implement, and troubleshoot industrial control systems.
• Develop functional specifications and manage automation projects independently.
• Work directly with customers to ensure technical requirements are met.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Provide technical expertise and support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee system implementation to ensure performance and reliability.
• Support automation projects from design through commissioning.

Essential Skills

• Experience with PLC programming and HMI applications.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to work independently and within project teams.
• Valid driver's license.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a technical discipline preferred.
• Associate's Degree plus 2 years of relevant controls experience considered.
• Experience with instrumentation, motor controls, sensors, and industrial automation systems.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, servo systems, and validation in a GMP environment.
• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Work Environment

This is a full-time onsite role within a collaborative Controls Design & Engineering group. Engineers work independently and collaboratively on customer automation projects involving PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, motor controls, and industrial control systems. The role includes customer interaction, project management responsibilities, system development, and occasional field support throughout project implementation. The company offers a strong family-oriented culture, career growth opportunities, exposure to diverse automation projects, comprehensive benefits, and training and professional development opportunities. Dress code is business casual, and the position requires passing a drug and alcohol screening.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Harrisburg, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $65000.00 - $110000.00/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 Harrisburg,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 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.