Controls Engineer

Actalent; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 69,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Pre-tax and Roth post-tax options

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Transit benefits

Time Off / PTO

Job summary

Actalent in Minneapolis, MN is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, program, and own automation projects from concept through service. You will work with packaging equipment, robotics, motion control, and machine vision to deliver reliable controls.

You will lead projects, cooperate with cross‑functional teams, travel about 10% for installation and commissioning, and apply new automation technologies to improve performance and maintainability.

Qualifications

• Requires a BS in Electrical Engineering or related field with 3+ years of controls experience.
• 3+ years PLC and HMI programming experience.
• 3+ years electrical design using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Experience with packaging automation preferred.
• Willingness to travel ~10% for site work.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop controls and electrical systems for automated machinery.
• Program and configure PLCs and HMIs for automated equipment.
• Lead controls projects from concept through service as primary contact.
• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical teams to integrate solutions.
• Support on-site installation, debugging, and commissioning.
• Ensure safety, performance, and quality requirements are met.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

AutoCAD Electrical

Rockwell control systems

Motor drives & VFDs

Travel 10%

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Associate's degree + 5+ years experience

Tools

PLC/HMI development environments

Rockwell/Control platforms

Electrical design software

Job description

The Controls Engineer designs and programs controls systems for complex automated machinery, taking ownership of assigned machines, machine groups, and controls projects from concept through manufacturing, assembly, debug, acceptance, installation, and service. This role serves as a primary technical contact for automation projects and delivers solutions that meet technical, budget, quality, and schedule requirements while supporting continuous improvement and the adoption of new automation technologies.

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design and develop controls and electrical systems for complex automated machinery, including packaging equipment, robotics, motion control, and machine vision systems.
• Create detailed electrical designs and schematics using AutoCAD Electrical for assigned machines and machine groups.
• Program and configure PLCs and HMIs to control automated equipment, ensuring reliable and efficient operation.
• Lead assigned controls projects from concept through manufacturing, assembly, debug, acceptance, installation, and service, acting as the primary technical contact.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to integrate controls solutions into complete automation systems.
• Support machine assembly and debug activities by troubleshooting and resolving controls and electrical issues on the shop floor.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing and site acceptance testing to ensure systems meet performance, safety, and quality requirements.
• Travel to customer sites, approximately 10% of the time, to perform installation, commissioning, and service support for automated equipment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by recommending and implementing enhancements to controls designs, standards, and processes.
• Stay current with new automation technologies and apply them appropriately to improve system performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Provide technical support and guidance to internal teams and customers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all controls designs and programs comply with project specifications, applicable standards, and company quality requirements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with at least 3 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's Degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience with PLC and HMI programming for automated equipment.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in electrical design using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Professional experience working with custom automated equipment; packaging automation experience preferred but not required.
• Hands‑on experience working with motors, drives, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).
• Proficiency with Rockwell‑based control systems and platforms.
• Ability to design, program, and troubleshoot controls for automated equipment including packaging machines, robotics, motion control, and machine vision systems.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10% of the time for equipment installation and commissioning at customer sites.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot electrical and controls issues both in an office and on the shop floor.
• Effective communication skills to serve as a primary technical contact throughout the project lifecycle.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with motion control systems and robotics is highly desirable.
• Experience in automated packaging equipment is a strong plus.
• Experience working in environments with high‑volume, short‑duration automation projects.
• Familiarity with machine vision systems used in automated machinery.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a small controls team of engineers and designers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight schedules while maintaining quality.

Work Environment

The role operates in a fast-paced environment focused on high-volume, short‑duration automation projects, with typical project lengths ranging from 6 to 10 weeks. The Controls team consists of a small, collaborative group of controls engineers and designers/drafters. Most work takes place in an office or cubicle setting, where the engineer performs design and programming tasks using tools such as AutoCAD Electrical and PLC/HMI development environments. The role also requires regular visits to the manufacturing floor to support machine assembly, troubleshooting, and debug activities. The organization offers a schedule that typically includes half-day Fridays, averaging four 9-hour days and one shorter day per week, along with a company-wide shutdown during the week of the 4th of July that is provided as paid time off. The environment emphasizes teamwork, continuous improvement, and the use of modern automation technologies.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $65.00/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.

• 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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN.

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.