Controls Engineer

ACTalent; Town of Cazenovia (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Disability insurance

Onsite facilities

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and implement electrical and mechatronic control systems for assembly and test equipment. The role covers from concept through commissioning, with emphasis on standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.

Candidate should have a BS in Engineering and hands-on experience with PLC/HMI programming, ladder logic, and NEC/IEC standards. Occasional travel to domestic and international sites may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred.
• Ability to read electrical schematics for complex equipment and control systems.
• Experience with control systems design, commissioning, and documentation.
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA, and IEC regulations relevant to industrial controls.

Responsibilities

• Develop new production lines and equipment, ensuring reliable control performance.
• Create electrical schematics for new equipment based on specifications.
• Compose PLC and HMI programs for new equipment using provided templates.
• Develop robot and electric actuator programs to support automation initiatives.
• Update software change logs and repositories to track control system changes.
• Bring new equipment online and troubleshoot wiring and programming issues.
• Prepare operating and troubleshooting documentation for operators and maintenance.
• Travel to support domestic or international installations and commissioning.

Skills

Electrical schematics

PLC programming (ladder logic)

HMI development

Robot programming

AutoCAD

Rockwell automation

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Robot simulation software

PLC programming software

Job description

The Controls Engineer designs and implements electrical and mechatronic control systems for new and upgraded assembly and test equipment. This role defines and translates requirements from internal and external specifications into complete control system designs, including electrical panels, PLC and HMI programs, documentation, and commissioning support. The Controls Engineer supports the full lifecycle of production equipment, from concept and design through installation, start-up, troubleshooting, and transition to production, while contributing to standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop new production lines and equipment, ensuring reliable and efficient control system performance.
• Create electrical schematics for new equipment based on specifications and existing design templates.
• Assist with the assembly and oversight of electrical control enclosures to improve future designs and enhance maintainability.
• Compose PLC and HMI programs for new equipment using provided specifications and established design templates.
• Develop robot and electric actuator programs and templates for new equipment designs to support automation initiatives.
• Update software change logs and repositories to capture issues, document revisions, and track progress on control system changes.
• Bring new equipment online and troubleshoot wiring and programming issues as required to achieve stable operation.
• Perform product preproduction builds on equipment and assist with training and transfer of processes to production teams.
• Create equipment operating and troubleshooting documentation using existing templates to support operators and maintenance personnel.
• Participate in equipment design reviews, investigate technical problems, and recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Contribute to equipment commissioning schedules and timelines, coordinating with cross-functional teams to meet project milestones.
• Perform technical reviews of supplier documentation when equipment is provided by external resources to ensure compliance and functionality.
• Support standardization activities with other internal departments to align equipment designs, software, and documentation.
• Implement engineering changes and update all required documentation and software for equipment used domestically and internationally.
• Coordinate training for the Maintenance department and support programming and troubleshooting knowledge transfer so production teams can support the equipment where possible.
• Prepare spare parts definitions for production equipment and serve as a primary technical resource for assigned equipment currently in production to drive improvements in future designs.
• Participate in equipment installation and modification activities, ensuring proper integration of control systems.
• Travel as needed to support domestic or international equipment installations and commissioning.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of relevant experience, including related college-level coursework.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering preferred.
• Ability to read and create electrical schematics for complex equipment and control systems.
• Ability to measure signals in control enclosures using a multimeter and other basic test equipment.
• Ability to troubleshoot electrical and mechanical issues on complex automated equipment.
• Ability to develop technical documentation and preventative maintenance procedures for production equipment.
• Ability to participate effectively in equipment installation and modification projects.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• Knowledge of PLC programming, particularly ladder logic.
• Experience with text-based, function-block diagram, or flowchart-based computer programming languages.
• Experience with industrial robot programming or maintenance, including use of robot simulation software.
• Knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA, and IEC regulations relevant to industrial control systems.
• Skills in PLC programming, automation, and controls engineering.
• Proficiency with electrical design tools, including AutoCAD, for panel layout and schematics.
• Experience working with Rockwell automation platforms and HMI development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering is preferred and supports growth into more advanced controls and automation responsibilities.
• Experience developing robot and electric actuator programs for automated equipment.
• Familiarity with documentation standards and software repositories for version control and change management.
• Ability to contribute to standardization initiatives across departments, including common templates and best practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to investigate technical issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Effective communication skills to support training, documentation creation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to support equipment installations and commissioning at domestic and international sites.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cazenovia, NY.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $48.07/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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cazenovia, NY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cazenovia,NY.

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.