Controls Engineer

Worthington Steel; Porter (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Worthington Steel in Porter, Indiana, is seeking a Controls Engineer to maintain and improve automation across our steel processing operations. You will work directly with PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, and industrial networks to troubleshoot and optimize equipment performance.

Collaborating with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering, you’ll drive lean improvements, support capital projects, and help modernize aging systems while ensuring safety and reliability in a hands-on role.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in an industrial, steel processing, or similar environment preferred.
• Strong knowledge of PLC programming and troubleshooting, HMIs, VFDs, motor controls, industrial networks, sensors, instrumentation, and electrical schematics.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead technical resource for PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, and industrial networking.
• Troubleshoot and improve PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, industrial networks, and automated processing equipment.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment uptime, throughput, quality, and safety.
• Diagnose complex electrical and controls issues, identify root causes, and implement permanent solutions.
• Support new equipment installations, controls upgrades, capital projects, commissioning, and startups.

Skills

PLC programming

Electrical schematics

Industrial networks

Troubleshooting

Project management

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley systems (RSLogix, FactoryTalk View SE/ME)

PowerFlex Drives

ABB/Siemens drives (plus)

Job description

Porter, Indiana

Join our Porter, Indiana team as a Controls Engineer and play an important role in keeping our steel processing operations running safely, reliably, and efficiently. This hands‑on technical role works directly with plant equipment and partners with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering to troubleshoot complex issues, improve equipment performance, and support automation and controls improvements. You’ll work with PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, industrial networks, and other automation systems while supporting equipment reliability, continuous improvement, and capital projects throughout the plant.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a lead technical resource for PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, and industrial networking.


• Troubleshoot and improve PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, industrial networks, and automated processing equipment.


• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment uptime, throughput, quality, and safety.


• Diagnose complex electrical and controls issues, identify root causes, and implement permanent solutions.


• Support new equipment installations, controls upgrades, capital projects, commissioning, and startups.


• Manage small‑to‑medium-sized process improvement and capital projects from scope through implementation.


• Identify aging or at‑risk automation systems and help develop modernization and replacement strategies.


• Maintain controls programs, backups, electrical drawings, documentation, and technical standards.


• Support industrial Ethernet networks and communication between PLCs, HMIs, historians, MES, and SCADA systems.


• Provide secondary support for plant OT infrastructure, including industrial PCs, servers, virtualization platforms, and production applications.


• Participate in Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.

What You’ll Bring

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.


• 3–5 years of experience in an industrial, steel processing, or similar environment preferred.


• Strong knowledge of PLC programming and troubleshooting, HMIs, VFDs, motor controls, industrial networks, sensors, instrumentation, and electrical schematics.


• Experience with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley systems, including RSLogix, FactoryTalk View SE/ME, and PowerFlex Drives.


• ABB and/or Siemens Drives experience is a plus.


• Strong troubleshooting, problem‑solving, project management, and communication skills.


• Ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and other technical resources.


• Flexibility to provide technical support during equipment startups, shutdowns, and critical equipment issues when needed.

The Opportunity

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the operation—not just designing systems from behind a desk. You’ll have the opportunity to solve challenging equipment problems, influence automation strategy, lead improvements, and make a visible impact on the performance and reliability of our Porter operation.

About Us

At Worthington Steel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We recognize that individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds are essential to our success. You may be the perfect candidate for this role or others within our organization.

Worthington Steel (NYSEWS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat‑roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions are driving steel toward a more sustainable future.

As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its approximately 6,000 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value‑added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking, specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Following a people‑first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees and strengthening its communities.

Worthington Steel Inc., and its subsidiaries, is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability or veteran’s status.