Controls Engineer

Actalent; Wentzville (MO); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO from day one

Contract-to-hire path

Overtime opportunities

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer for a contract-to-hire role in Wentzville, MO. You will support highly automated systems and collaborate with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to maximize uptime and performance.

The role emphasizes hands-on troubleshooting on the manufacturing floor, with opportunities to grow technically and professionally in a dynamic, world‑class automation environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics or related field.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, automation systems or industrial controls.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and support PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and industrial control systems.
• Investigate downtime and identify root causes of controls-related issues.
• Support new equipment installations, upgrades, and automation projects.
• Analyze production data to improve system performance.
• Maintain controls documentation and engineering standards.
• Drive continuous improvement for efficiency, uptime, and reliability.
• Collaborate with maintenance, manufacturing, and engineering teams on technical challenges.
• Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor supporting real-time operations.

Skills

PLC & HMIs experience

Automation systems knowledge

Manufacturing environment experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Controls or Mechatronics

Tools

Allen‑Bradley PLCs

Rockwell/PLC platforms

Job description

Launch Your Career in One of the Most Advanced Manufacturing Environments in the St. Louis Metro If you're looking for a Controls Engineering opportunity where you'll gain more hands‑on technical experience in your first few years than many engineers get in a decade, this is it. This is arguably one of the best technical development opportunities in the St. Louis area, offering exposure to large-scale automation, robotics, PLCs, industrial networking, and high-volume manufacturing operations. You'll work alongside experienced controls professionals in a fast-paced environment where every day presents new technical challenges and opportunities to learn. Even better, due to the significant overtime available, many first-year engineers earn close to or exceed $100,000 annually, making this an exceptional opportunity for both career growth and earning potential.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Exposure to cutting-edge automation, robotics, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks
• Work in a large-scale manufacturing environment with continuous investment in modernization and technology
• Exceptional technical development and mentorship opportunities
• Contract-to-hire role with a clear path toward long-term career growth
• PTO offered from day one
• Overtime opportunities that allow many engineers to earn near or above the $100K mark in their first year
• Gain highly sought-after OEM manufacturing experience that opens doors throughout your career

What You'll Do

As a Controls Engineer, you'll support highly automated manufacturing systems while working closely with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to maximize equipment performance, reliability, and uptime.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Troubleshoot and support PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and industrial control systems
• Investigate equipment downtime and identify root causes of controls-related issues
• Support new equipment installations, upgrades, and automation projects
• Analyze production and fault data to improve system performance
• Maintain controls documentation, backups, and engineering standards
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, uptime, and reliability
• Collaborate with maintenance, manufacturing, and engineering teams to solve complex technical challenges
• Spend extensive time on the manufacturing floor supporting real-time production operations

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, automation systems, or industrial controls
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Experience in manufacturing, automation, or industrial environments preferred
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced production setting
• Willingness to work any shift, including weekends, as business needs require
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with operations and maintenance teams

Work Environment

This Role Is Approximately

• 75% Manufacturing Floor
• 25% Engineering Office

You'll Work Directly With

• Advanced robotics
• Automated production systems
• Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC platforms
• Industrial networking infrastructure
• High-speed manufacturing equipment

If you're an engineer who wants to accelerate your technical growth, gain exposure to world-class automation systems, and earn excellent compensation while doing it, this is the opportunity you've been looking for.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wentzville, MO.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $42.00/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wentzville,MO.

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.