Controls Engineer

GCS Recruitment Specialists; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment Specialists seeks an experienced Controls Engineer to design, program, and commission custom automated manufacturing equipment. The role emphasizes developing controls solutions from scratch for new machine builds.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands-on automation experience, strong PLC programming skills with Allen Bradley Studio 5000, and proficiency in HMI, motion control, servo systems, vision, and robotics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on controls and automation experience.
• Proven experience programming PLCs from scratch for new machine builds.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley Studio 5000; Siemens, Beckhoff, or CODESYS experience also considered.
• Experience with HMI development, motion control, servo systems, and robot programming.
• Knowledge of industrial protocols including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus, and OPC UA.
• Familiarity with machine safety standards and electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop PLC programs from scratch using Allen Bradley Studio 5000 (Ladder Logic & Structured Text).
• Design and configure HMI, motion control, servo systems, vision systems, and industrial robots.
• Integrate sensors, I/O, and industrial communication networks.
• Support commissioning, FAT, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and production startup.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and vision engineering teams.

Skills

Controls engineering

Automation systems

PLC programming

HMI development

Robot programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

Siemens

Beckhoff

CODESYS

EtherNet/IP

PROFINET

EtherCAT

Modbus

OPC UA

Job description

About the role:

We are seeking a Controls Engineer with 5+ years of automation experience to design, program, and commission custom automated manufacturing equipment. This role focuses on developing controls solutions from scratch for new machine builds.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop PLC programs from scratch using Allen Bradley Studio 5000 (Ladder Logic & Structured Text).
• Design and configure HMI, motion control, servo systems, vision systems, and industrial robots.
• Integrate sensors, I/O, and industrial communication networks.
• Support commissioning, FAT, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and production startup.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and vision engineering teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on controls and automation experience.
• Proven experience programming PLCs from scratch for new machine builds.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley Studio 5000; candidates with Siemens, Beckhoff, or CODESYS experience will also be considered.
• Experience with HMI development, motion control, servo systems, and robot programming.
• Knowledge of industrial protocols including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus, and OPC UA.
• Familiarity with machine safety standards and electrical systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Python programming for machine control.
• Experience with Keyence Vision Systems, Epson Robots, or ProFace HMIs.
• Electrical CAD experience (SolidWorks preferred).