Controls Engineer

Sterling Engineering Inc.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401k

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Sterling Engineering Inc. in Rockford, IL, is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to design, program, and commission custom automation equipment for industrial customers.

You will take projects from electrical design through installation, startup, and customer acceptance, working hands-on with Allen Bradley PLCs, servo motion, and machine vision systems.

This direct-hire role requires up to 25% travel and offers a competitive compensation plus a robust benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience, preferably within custom automation, machine building, or industrial manufacturing.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley PLCs and Rockwell Automation software.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems.
• Experience with machine vision systems.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and develop electrical schematics.
• Comfortable working hands-on with automated equipment during startup and commissioning.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for customer commissioning and startup.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical and control systems for custom automation equipment.
• Develop and program Allen Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems using Rockwell Automation software.
• Create, modify, and maintain electrical schematics, control documentation, and system drawings.
• Troubleshoot electrical, controls, and automation issues during development and production.
• Commission automated equipment at customer facilities and support equipment startup.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and engineering teams to deliver complete automation solutions.
• Support and troubleshoot servo motion and machine vision systems.
• Mentor junior controls engineers and contribute to the development of engineering best practices.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to improve machine performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Travel to customer sites for installation, commissioning, and startup activities — up to 25%.

Skills

Controls engineering

Electrical troubleshooting

Servo motion systems

Machine vision

Teamwork

Communication

Tools

Rockwell Automation software

Job description

Job Description

Title: Controls Engineer
Location: Rockford, IL
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $110,000 to $130,000 based on experience
Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance, 401k, Paid Time Off

About the Role

Seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to design, program, and commission custom automated equipment for a variety of industrial customers. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys taking projects from electrical design and programming through installation, startup, and customer acceptance.The ideal candidate has strong Allen Bradley/Rockwell controls experience, along with a solid understanding of servo motion, vision systems, electrical troubleshooting, and automated machinery.

What You'll Do:

• Design electrical and control systems for custom automation equipment.
• Develop and program Allen Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems using Rockwell Automation software.
• Create, modify, and maintain electrical schematics, control documentation, and system drawings.
• Troubleshoot electrical, controls, and automation issues during development and production.
• Commission automated equipment at customer facilities and support equipment startup.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and engineering teams to deliver complete automation solutions.
• Support and troubleshoot servo motion and machine vision systems.
• Mentor junior controls engineers and contribute to the development of engineering best practices.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to improve machine performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Travel to customer sites for installation, commissioning, and startup activities — up to 25%.

What We're Looking For:

• 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience, preferably within custom automation, machine building, or industrial manufacturing.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley PLCs and Rockwell Automation software.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems.
• Experience with machine vision systems.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and develop electrical schematics.
• Comfortable working hands-on with automated equipment during startup and commissioning.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for customer commissioning and startup.

Why Join?

• Work on custom automation projects from concept through commissioning.
• Gain exposure to a variety of advanced automation technologies.
• Take ownership of challenging controls projects and see your work come to life.
• Opportunity to mentor others and grow into a technical leadership role.
• Collaborative engineering environment with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.