Controls Engineer

Actalent; Lowell (MI); On-site; USD 48,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is hiring a Controls Engineer in Lowell, MI, to join a hands-on team delivering custom automation and material handling systems across North America. You will program Allen-Bradley PLCs, design electrical schematics with AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN, and support projects from concept to startup.

The role requires 3+ years in controls, strong troubleshooting, and excellent customer communication. It is an on-site, contract-to-hire position with travel up to 30% within the United States.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in controls or automation engineering.
• Proven experience programming Allen-Bradley PLCs, including developing programs from scratch.
• Experience creating and modifying electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Background in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing, or material handling systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in automated and electromechanical systems.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and collaborate effectively with multiple engineering disciplines.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort interacting directly with customers.
• Willingness to take on responsibilities beyond core controls work to support overall project success.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20–30% annually, primarily within the United States.

Responsibilities

• Program and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems for custom automation and material handling applications.
• Develop PLC programs from scratch for new systems and modify existing code to support upgrades and process improvements.
• Design and modify electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN for control systems and panels.
• Collaborate with Mechanical Engineers, Project Managers, and other engineering teams to develop integrated automation solutions.
• Support projects from initial concept through system integration, commissioning, and startup.
• Participate in equipment testing, validation, and troubleshooting both in-house and at customer sites.
• Work directly with customers to support system installations, upgrades, and performance improvements.
• Assist with component selection, BOM creation, and purchasing for control system hardware.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
• Provide engineering support on the production floor as systems are built, wired, and tested.
• Take on additional project responsibilities outside of core controls work as needed to ensure successful project delivery.
• Travel to customer sites approximately 20–30% for commissioning and support, primarily within the United States.

Skills

3+ years in controls/automation

Allen-Bradley PLC programming

AutoCAD Electrical schematics

Industrial automation background

Troubleshooting & problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Customer interaction skills

Travel 20–30%

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

HMI development tools

Job description

Job Title: Controls EngineerJob Description

This Controls Engineer role sits within a growing automation and material handling organization that designs and delivers custom automated systems for major manufacturers and distribution companies across North America. You will work in a hands-on capacity, combining PLC programming, electrical design, system integration, and field support for custom material handling projects. The position offers exposure to a wide variety of initiatives, from new system installations to facility expansions, upgrades, and process improvements, and provides autonomy to manage your workload and contribute throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Program and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems for custom automation and material handling applications.

• Develop PLC programs from scratch for new systems and modify existing code to support upgrades and process improvements.

• Design and modify electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical and, where applicable, EPLAN for control systems and panels.

• Collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineers, Project Managers, and other engineering teams to develop integrated automation solutions.

• Support projects from initial concept and design through system integration, commissioning, and startup.

• Participate in equipment testing, validation, and troubleshooting both in-house and at customer sites.

• Work directly with customers to support system installations, upgrades, and performance improvements.

• Assist with component selection, bill of materials creation, and purchasing activities for control system hardware.

• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including drawings, schematics, and test procedures.

• Provide engineering support on the production floor as systems are built, wired, and tested.

• Take on additional project responsibilities outside of core controls work as needed to ensure successful project delivery.

• Travel to customer sites approximately 20–30% of the time for commissioning, troubleshooting, and customer support, primarily within the United States.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in controls or automation engineering.

• Proven experience programming Allen-Bradley PLCs, including developing programs from scratch.

• Experience creating and modifying electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical.

• Background in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing, or material handling systems.

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in automated and electromechanical systems.

• Ability to work cross-functionally and collaborate effectively with multiple engineering disciplines.

• Excellent communication skills and comfort interacting directly with customers.

• Willingness to take on responsibilities beyond core controls work to support overall project success.

• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20–30% annually, primarily within the United States.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with EPLAN for electrical design is preferred.

• Background in material handling systems is preferred.

• Experience with robotics or robotic integration is a plus.

• Experience with HMI development and support is beneficial.

• Familiarity with AutoCAD for general electrical and layout drawings.

• Interest in continuous learning and expanding skills across different aspects of automation projects.

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where project scopes and daily tasks vary.

Work Environment

This is an on-site position with no remote work option, based in an updated office space and a clean, organized, temperature-controlled shop. You will split your time between office-based engineering work, the shop floor where systems are built and tested, and customer sites for commissioning and support. The environment is dynamic and fast-paced, where no two days are the same, and responsibilities may include collaborating with engineering teams, reviewing designs, supporting purchasing activities, and assisting with system startups. Engineers receive significant ownership and flexibility in managing their projects and daily priorities. The shop continues to expand to support growth, and daily team lunches are provided as a benefit. The organization emphasizes ongoing training and development, encouraging engineers to keep learning and to work on a variety of tasks rather than performing the same work on every project.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Lowell, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $50.00/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 Lowell,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 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.