Controls Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

HSA

Transportation benefits

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Controls Engineer for a high‑volume automotive manufacturing plant in Wentzville, MO. You will support PLC‑based control systems, robotics integration, and equipment reliability to maximize uptime and safety on the production floor.

The role requires hands‑on PLC/HMI experience, robotics exposure, and the ability to work three shifts, including weekends, in a fully onsite environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics or related field.
• Experience supporting automation in high‑volume manufacturing.
• Hands‑on PLC programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining PLC‑based systems.
• Hands‑on HMI configuration and integration with PLCs.
• Experience with industrial networks in manufacturing environments.
• Strong troubleshooting under time pressure on live production.
• Willingness to work all three shifts and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Support and improve automated manufacturing systems to ensure throughput and reliability.
• Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robotics, and network issues in live production.
• Assist with equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning.
• Analyze downtime data to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain controls documentation, backups, and configurations.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering teams to improve uptime and safety.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for automation reliability and process optimization.
• Diagnose electrical and controls issues in time‑critical production environments.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Industrial networks

Troubleshooting

Automation in manufacturing

Robotics integration

Shift work readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics

Tools

PLCs

HMIs

Robotics systems

Job description

Job Title: Controls EngineerJob Description

The Controls Engineer supports highly automated, high‑volume manufacturing operations with a strong focus on PLC‑based control systems, robotics integration, and equipment reliability. In this role, you partner closely with manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering teams to support production, troubleshoot complex controls issues, and drive continuous improvement across the plant. You work in a modern, heavily automated environment where your skills in controls engineering directly influence uptime, throughput, and safety.

Responsibilities

• Support and improve automated manufacturing systems in a high‑volume production environment, ensuring consistent throughput and equipment reliability.


• Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robotics, and industrial network issues that impact production, working in live manufacturing conditions to restore operations safely and quickly.


• Support new equipment installations, upgrades, and system modifications, including commissioning, programming, and integration into existing systems.


• Analyze production and fault data to identify root causes of downtime or quality issues and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.


• Maintain controls documentation, standards, and backups, ensuring programs, configurations, and network settings are current and properly archived.


• Partner with cross‑functional teams in manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering to improve system stability, uptime, and safety performance.


• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation reliability, process optimization, and reduction of unplanned downtime.


• Apply strong troubleshooting skills in live production environments to diagnose electrical and controls issues under time‑sensitive conditions.


• Ensure controls systems and modifications align with plant standards, safety requirements, and best practices for industrial automation.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.


• Experience supporting automation in high‑volume manufacturing operations.


• Hands‑on experience with PLCs, including programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining PLC‑based control systems.


• Hands‑on experience with HMIs, including configuration, troubleshooting, and integration with PLCs and other controls hardware.


• Experience working with industrial networks in a manufacturing environment.


• Strong troubleshooting skills in live production environments, including the ability to diagnose issues quickly and safely under time pressure.


• Ability to support and improve automated manufacturing systems in a high‑volume production setting.


• Willingness and ability to work all three shifts and weekends as required.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with robotics and robotic integration in automated manufacturing systems.


• Background in controls, electrical, and general engineering disciplines related to automation and industrial equipment.


• Experience with PLC programming and controls troubleshooting in complex, high‑volume facilities.


• Exposure to continuous improvement initiatives focused on uptime, throughput, and system reliability.


• Interest in building a long‑term career within a large original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturing network.


• Desire to work in a highly automated, modernized plant environment with significant investment in controls, robotics, and advanced tooling.

Work Environment

This role is based in a large, high‑volume automotive production and manufacturing facility that operates multiple shifts. Approximately 75% of your time is spent on the production floor and 25% in an engineering office environment. You work closely with automated equipment, PLC‑based control systems, robotics, conveyors, and modern manufacturing technologies. The plant runs multiple shifts, and you must be open to all three shifts and weekends. Shifts include 1st shift (6:30 am–2:30 pm), 2nd shift (2:30 pm–10:30 pm), and 3rd shift (9:00 pm–6:30 am). Ideally, staffing covers each shift; if not, shifts may rotate approximately every 3–6 months. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times in production areas, including safety glasses, high‑visibility vests, and arm covers. You will work within a large, established manufacturing site with thousands of employees, extensive automation, and continuous investment in modernization, providing exposure to complex systems and opportunities for professional growth.

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.

• 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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wentzville,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 2026.

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.