Controls Engineer

Actalent; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Onsite/onsite benefits

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a hands-on electrical controls engineer for a contract-to-hire role at Kennedy Space Center, FL. The position emphasizes deploying, commissioning, and operating PLC-based automation and SCADA systems in launch infrastructure environments.

The ideal candidate has 6–18 months of relevant experience, strong electrical fundamentals, and the ability to work on-site with hardware, instrumentation, and control panels in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• This role requires 6–18 months of hands-on experience in controls, automation, or industrial systems.
• Experience with PLC platforms (Siemens, Rockwell/AB) and SCADA is preferred.
• Strong understanding of electrical fundamentals and ability to read schematics.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, activate, and commission PLC-based automation systems in industrial settings.
• Validate PLC-to-SCADA communications and field data exchange.
• Verify remote I/O networks and instrumentation signals in the field.
• Perform startup, checkout, and troubleshooting of new control systems.
• Support activation and readiness of critical infrastructure equipment.
• Review installations against engineering drawings and P&IDs.

Skills

Hands-on field engineering

PLC-based systems

SCADA integration

Industrial automation

Electrical schematics reading

Field troubleshooting

Profinet/Modbus/EtherNet/IP

Siemens/Allen-Bradley PLCs

AutoCAD EPLAN familiarity

6–18 months experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

EPLAN/AutoCAD Electrical

SCADA platforms

Job description

Job Description

This hands-on Data & Control Systems Engineer role focuses on integrating, commissioning, activating, and operating advanced industrial control and fluid process systems that support critical launch infrastructure. Rather than a purely design-focused position, this opportunity centers on bringing PLC-based systems online, validating their performance, troubleshooting issues in the field, and ensuring that installed automation and control systems operate as intended. The engineer collaborates closely with controls engineers, technicians, operations personnel, and vendors to deploy and support PLC-based control systems, SCADA platforms, instrumentation networks, and remote I/O architectures. This role is ideal for early-career engineers with 6–18 months of relevant experience who enjoy working directly with hardware, instrumentation, automation systems, and field operations in a highly technical, fast-paced environment.

Electrical Controls Engineer

This hands-on Data & Control Systems Engineer role focuses on integrating, commissioning, activating, and operating advanced industrial control and fluid process systems that support critical launch infrastructure. Rather than a purely design-focused position, this opportunity centers on bringing PLC-based systems online, validating their performance, troubleshooting issues in the field, and ensuring that installed automation and control systems operate as intended. The engineer collaborates closely with controls engineers, technicians, operations personnel, and vendors to deploy and support PLC-based control systems, SCADA platforms, instrumentation networks, and remote I/O architectures. This role is ideal for early-career engineers with 6–18 months of relevant experience who enjoy working directly with hardware, instrumentation, automation systems, and field operations in a highly technical, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, activate, and commission PLC-based automation systems for industrial control and fluid process applications.
• Commission and validate PLC-to-SCADA communications, ensuring proper control functionality and data exchange.
• Verify remote I/O networks, instrumentation channels, and system communications to confirm correct configuration and connectivity.
• Perform startup, checkout, and troubleshooting activities for newly installed control and automation systems.
• Support activation and operational readiness of critical infrastructure equipment associated with launch and process systems.
• Conduct field walkdowns to confirm that installations match engineering drawings, P&IDs, and overall design intent.
• Validate instrumentation readings, sensor signals, valve control functionality, and I/O channel assignments in the field.
• Troubleshoot issues involving instrumentation, controls, automation, and electrical systems to restore proper operation.
• Ensure systems function correctly and reliably prior to turnover to operations teams.
• Support highly automated fluid handling and process control systems, focusing on performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with vendors and installation teams during fabrication and construction activities to align on technical requirements.
• Answer technical questions and resolve integration issues that arise throughout project execution.
• Review and verify incoming equipment, control panels, instrumentation, and controls packages for compliance with specifications.
• Assist with technical acceptance testing and commissioning activities for new and upgraded systems.
• Update and modify electrical drawings, control schematics, and system documentation to reflect as-built conditions.
• Interpret and review P&IDs, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and system layouts to support installation and troubleshooting.
• Ensure documentation accurately reflects field installations, system changes, and continuous improvements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts for automation, controls, and data acquisition systems.
• Analyze system performance and operational data to identify trends, issues, and optimization opportunities.
• Identify and resolve reliability, instrumentation, and controls issues impacting system performance.
• Support a fast-paced manufacturing and operational environment where priorities can shift quickly and require flexible response.

Essential Skills

• 6–18 months of relevant experience gained through internships, co-ops, research projects, engineering projects, or industry roles involving controls, automation, or industrial systems.
• Exposure to industrial automation, controls, or PLC-based systems in manufacturing, process, utilities, energy, semiconductor, or aerospace environments.
• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals, including understanding of Ohm’s Law, basic power distribution, conductor sizing, breakers and fuses, and electrical troubleshooting principles.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and control drawings for installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Exposure to PLC platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell / Allen-Bradley, National Instruments, or similar industrial automation platforms.
• Experience commissioning industrial control systems, including startup, validation, and troubleshooting activities.
• Experience integrating PLCs with SCADA systems and verifying communication and control functionality.
• Siemens PLC experience working with configuration, programming, or commissioning tasks.
• Experience with industrial networking and communications protocols such as Profinet, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP.
• Understanding of remote I/O architectures, instrumentation systems, pressure transducers, automated valve controls, and process control systems.
• Ability to read and interpret Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) for process and control systems.
• Experience using electrical CAD software such as EPLAN or AutoCAD Electrical for creating or updating control and electrical drawings.
• Ability and desire to work in a hands-on field engineering capacity, spending time on-site with hardware, instrumentation, and control systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Physics, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience supporting manufacturing facilities, process industries, utilities, energy systems, industrial automation environments, semiconductor facilities, or aerospace operations.
• Experience in controls engineering and PLC programming, particularly with Siemens and Allen-Bradley / Rockwell platforms.
• Familiarity with SCADA platforms and data acquisition systems used in industrial environments.
• Experience updating and maintaining system documentation to reflect field changes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams including controls engineers, technicians, operations personnel, and vendors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for diagnosing instrumentation, controls, and reliability issues.
• Comfort working in fast-paced operational settings where priorities may change rapidly and require adaptive responses.

Work Environment

The role operates in a highly technical, fast-paced industrial environment focused on advanced automation, fluid handling, and process control systems that support critical launch and operational infrastructure. Work involves a mix of office-based engineering tasks and hands-on field activities, including time spent around installed hardware, instrumentation, control panels, and PLC-based systems. The engineer works closely with operations teams, technicians, and vendors during fabrication, construction, commissioning, and ongoing support. Industrial networking technologies such as Profinet, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP, as well as PLC platforms like Siemens and Allen-Bradley / Rockwell, are commonly used. Electrical CAD tools such as EPLAN and AutoCAD Electrical support documentation and design updates. The environment emphasizes safety, technical rigor, and responsiveness to shifting operational priorities, offering exposure to manufacturing, process industries, utilities, energy systems, semiconductor facilities, and aerospace-related operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $41.00/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 Kennedy Space Center, FL. 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.