Controls Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k)

PTO

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent in Lowell, MI is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and deliver custom automated systems for distribution customers across the U.S. You will own workloads from concept through startup, with hands-on PLC programming, electrical design, system integration, and field support.

This onsite role requires 20–30% travel and offers opportunities to work across installations, upgrades, and testing on customer sites, in a team that values ownership and technical growth.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in controls or automation engineering.
• PLC programming from scratch (Allen Bradley).
• Electrical schematics design (AutoCAD Electrical/Eplan).
• Strong troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Excellent communication with customers.

Responsibilities

• PLC programming - Allen Bradley.
• Design and modify electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical/Eplan.
• Support projects from concept through startup and integration.
• Equipment testing, validation, and troubleshooting on site and in house.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation (drawings, schematics, test procedures).
• Provide engineering support on the production floor as systems are built and tested.
• Travel to customer sites for commissioning and support.

Skills

Controls/Automation experience

Allen-Bradley PLC

Electrical schematics (AutoCAD/Eplan)

Troubleshooting

Customer communication

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

Job description

Job Description

A local growing automation and material handling organization is looking to add a CE to the team full time. This engineer will design and delivers custom automated systems for major distribution companies across the U.S.

Job Title: Controls Engineer

A local growing automation and material handling organization is looking to add a CE to the team full time. This engineer will design and delivers custom automated systems for major distribution companies across the U.S.

You will have the autonomy to manage your workload and contribute throughout the entire project lifecycle.

• Hands on engineering - PLC programming, electrical design, system integration, and field support for custom material handling projects
• Wide variety of initiatives, from new system installations to facility expansions, upgrades, and process improvements

Travel: 20-30%

Responsibilities

• PLC programming - Allen Bradley
• Design and modify electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical/Eplan
• 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.
• 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.
• Travel to customer sites for commissioning, troubleshooting, and customer support

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of experience in controls or automation engineering
• PLC programming from scratch (Allen Bradley)
• Electrical schematics design (AutoCAD E or ePlan)
• Strong troubleshooting and problem solving skills
• Excellent communication skills and comfort interacting directly with customers.

Nice to have Skills & Qualifications

• EPLAN
• Background in material handling systems
• Experience with robotics or robotic integration
• Interest in learning and expanding skills in automation/controls
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where project scopes and daily tasks vary

Work Environment

Fully onsite role with an updated office space and a clean, organized, temperature controlled shop.

• You will split your time between office engineering work, the shop floor where systems are built and tested, and customer sites for commissioning and support.
• Dynamic and fast paced work environment, where no two days are the same
• 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 Oct 1, 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.