Controls Engineer

GCS Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment seeks a Controls Engineer in Los Angeles, CA for a 12+ month contract. You will design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems and develop HMI/SCADA applications for automated processes.

Responsibilities include configuring industrial protocols, creating control strategies, supporting commissioning, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Travel for site support is required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Hands-on PLC programming with Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, or CODESYS.
• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC or Wonderware.
• Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, and drawings.
• Willingness to travel for commissioning/site support.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems.
• Develop and maintain HMI/SCADA applications.
• Configure/integrate industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, Profinet).
• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, sequences of operation.
• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT, startup and deployment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams.
• Develop technical documentation (functional specs, test plans, SOPs).
• Perform root cause analysis and ongoing support for control systems.
• Assist with upgrades, migrations, and process improvements.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Industrial networks

System integration

Commissioning

Electrical drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls Engineer
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Duration: 12+ months Contract

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Controls Engineer to support the design, development, implementation, and optimization of industrial automation systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, industrial networking, system integration, and commissioning within manufacturing or process control environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems using platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or CODESYS.


• Develop and maintain HMI and SCADA applications for monitoring and controlling automated processes.


• Configure and integrate industrial communication protocols including EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and Profinet.


• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, and sequences of operation for automated equipment.


• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT activities, startup, and production deployment.


• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams to deliver automation projects.


• Develop technical documentation including functional specifications, test plans, and operating procedures.


• Perform root cause analysis and provide ongoing troubleshooting and support for control systems.


• Assist with system upgrades, migrations, and process improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.


• 3+ years of experience in industrial automation and controls engineering.


• Hands-on experience programming PLCs using Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, or CODESYS.


• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC, or Wonderware.


• Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.


• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.


• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical drawings.


• Willingness to travel for commissioning and site support as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with motion control, VFDs, servo systems, and safety PLCs.


• Knowledge of MES, IIoT, and cloud-based industrial technologies.


• Experience with Python, SQL, or other scripting languages.


• Familiarity with Git version control and software development best practices.


• Exposure to material handling, warehouse automation, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing environments.