Controls Engineer

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life & disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off (PTO)

Career development

Job summary

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc. is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer in the Richmond, VA area to design and program control systems for advanced packaging equipment.

You will work from concept through testing, commissioning, and customer installation, collaborating with engineers to deliver modular, robust automation solutions. The role emphasizes PLC controls, motion systems, robotics, HMIs, and integration with factory networks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in controls/automation with packaging automation.
• Strong ControlLogix PLC experience.
• Proficiency with Ladder Logic and Structured Text.
• Experience programming motion-control systems and robotic machinery.
• Ability to read electrical schematics.
• Robotics experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design control systems, specifications, and automation architectures for advanced packaging equipment.
• Program PLCs, motion-control systems, and robotic machines.
• Develop HMI applications and operator interfaces.
• Integrate automation equipment and information systems through industrial networks.
• Review electrical and control-wiring schematics.
• Test, troubleshoot, and commission machinery to ensure high-quality performance.
• Provide technical support and visit customer sites to resolve field issues.
• Mentor junior engineers and share your technical expertise.
• Develop standardized and modular control software.
• Collaborate with customers throughout project development and manufacturing.
• Participate in lessons-learned and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Skills

ControlLogix PLC

Ladder Logic

Structured Text

Motion control

Robotics

Electrical schematics

Job description

South Chesterfield, VA | Full-Time

Engineer smarter machines. Build the future of automation.

Are you an experienced Controls Engineer who thrives on solving complex automation challenges?

Join an innovative automation team designing and building advanced packaging machinery powered by PLC controls, motion systems, robotics, and vision-guided technology .

This is an opportunity to work on sophisticated equipment from concept and programming through testing, commissioning, and customer installation—while collaborating with talented engineers and helping shape the next generation of industrial automation.

What You'll Do

• Design control systems, specifications, and automation architectures for advanced packaging equipment.
• Program PLCs, motion-control systems, and robotic machines.
• Develop HMI applications and operator interfaces.
• Integrate automation equipment and information systems through industrial networks.
• Review electrical and control-wiring schematics.
• Test, troubleshoot, and commission machinery to ensure high-quality performance.
• Provide technical support and visit customer sites to resolve field issues.
• Mentor junior engineers and share your technical expertise.
• Develop standardized and modular control software.
• Collaborate with customers throughout project development and manufacturing.
• Participate in lessons-learned and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Travel: Up to 15%.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of controls, automation, manufacturing, or engineering experience involving motion control and packaging automation.
• Strong ControlLogix PLC experience.
• Proficiency with Ladder Logic and Structured Text .
• Experience programming motion-control systems and robotic machinery.
• Experience with the Keba Robotics platform .
• Knowledge of complex PLC-based motion control.
• Ability to read electrical schematics.
• Experience with robotic setups and upstream/downstream equipment.
• Understanding of code standardization and modularization.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and customer-facing skills.
• Robotics experience is a plus.

Why This Opportunity?

This isn't a role where you'll simply maintain existing systems.

You'll help design, program, test, and bring advanced automation systems to life —working with robotics, motion control, PLCs, HMIs, and intelligent packaging technologies.

You'll also have opportunities to grow your technical expertise, mentor others, work directly with customers, and contribute ideas in an environment where innovation is part of the culture .

• Majority employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 20 days of PTO during your first year
• 401(k) with 6% company match
• Career development and continuous-learning opportunities
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment

This position does not offer new employment authorization sponsorship. Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen and background check. Equal Opportunity Employer.