Controls Engineer

Actalent; Illinois; On-site; USD 108,886,000 - 128,943,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent in Rock Island, IL is seeking a Controls Engineer to troubleshoot and resolve production equipment and automation issues, diagnose electrical and system integration problems, and support downtime reduction in manufacturing operations.

You will engage in PLC programming and controls engineering tasks, collaborate with maintenance and production teams, and contribute to upgrades, commissioning, startup, validation, and testing activities.

Qualifications

• Experience troubleshooting production equipment and automation issues.
• Proficiency with Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLC platforms.
• Minimum 1 year with a Bachelor's degree or 3+ years with an Associate's degree.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and resolve production equipment and automation-related issues.
• Diagnose electrical, controls, PLC, HMI, and system integration problems.
• Provide technical support to minimize downtime in manufacturing operations.
• Respond to service calls and support equipment performance improvements.
• Partner with maintenance and production teams to identify root causes and corrective actions.
• Modify and maintain existing PLC programs and control logic.
• Develop expertise in machine automation, controls architecture, and system optimization.

Skills

PLC programming

Allen-Bradley

Siemens PLC

HMI

Robotics

Servo motors

Education

Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, or similar (3+ years)

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, or related (1+ year)

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Controls EngineerJob Description

As a Controls Engineer, you will troubleshoot and resolve production equipment and automation-related issues, diagnose electrical and system integration problems, and provide technical support to minimize downtime in manufacturing operations. You will respond to service calls, support equipment performance improvements, and partner with maintenance and production teams to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. You will also engage in PLC programming and controls engineering tasks, ensuring seamless operation of industrial PLC systems.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and resolve production equipment and automation-related issues.
• Diagnose electrical, controls, PLC, HMI, and system integration problems.
• Provide technical support for manufacturing operations to minimize downtime.
• Respond to service calls and support equipment performance improvements.
• Partner with maintenance and production teams to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Connect to and troubleshoot industrial PLC systems.
• Modify and maintain existing PLC programs and control logic.
• Assist with controls upgrades, process improvements, and system enhancements.
• Support commissioning, startup, validation, and testing activities.
• Develop expertise in machine automation, controls architecture, and system optimization.
• Participate in new automation projects and equipment improvements.
• Assist with integration of emerging technologies and advanced motion control systems.
• Document programming changes, troubleshooting efforts, and engineering solutions.
• Expand capabilities in PLC programming, motion control, automation systems, and industrial networking.

Essential Skills

• Experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in working with Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLC platforms.
• 1+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree or 3+ years with an Associate's degree.
• Knowledge of HMI, robotics, and servo motors.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, or a similar technical field with 3+ years of relevant controls or automation experience.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related discipline with 1+ year of relevant experience.
• Exposure to both Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLC systems is beneficial.

Work Environment

Enjoy a great work environment in a small team setting, which provides ample opportunities for learning and growth. With minimal bureaucracy, employees have the freedom to contribute ideas, solve problems, and take ownership of their work. This setting encourages teamwork and offers the ability to make a meaningful impact.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Rock Island, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $45.00/hr.

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 Rock Island,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 14, 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,