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

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer for a contract-to-hire role in Lowell, MI. You will perform hands-on control system design, PLC programming, electrical schematics, and system integration for automated material handling projects across the U.S., with 20-30% travel.

You'll support from concept through commissioning, and interact directly with customers on a daily basis. The role offers on-site work across engineering offices, shop floor, and customer sites, with ownership over projects and

Qualifications

• 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.

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

Skills

3+ years in controls/automation

PLC programming from scratch

Electrical schematics design

Troubleshooting & problem solving

Customer communication

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Eplan

Job description

Job Title

Controls Engineer

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.

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

• 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 & 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 5, 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.