Controls Engineer

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak LLC in Chicago Heights, Illinois is seeking a Controls Engineer to support and improve industrial automation within manufacturing. You will design, program, and maintain PLC-based control systems, develop HMI interfaces, and troubleshoot electrical and control issues to ensure reliability.

The role emphasizes safety, environmental compliance, and collaboration with maintenance and production teams to minimize downtime while driving continuous improvement

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Collaborate with maintenance, production, and engineering teams to reduce downtime.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and automation upgrades.
• Must be able to work with production and maintenance personnel, vendors and other Nortrak plant personnel in a team-oriented environment.
• Adhere to Nortrak's Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Industrial networks

Sensors & drives

Electrical schematics

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in manufacturing engineering or related field

Tools

HMIs

SCADA

VFDs

Job description

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 thro