Controls Engineer - Junior

Sterling Engineering Inc.; Buffalo Grove (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering Inc. in Buffalo Grove, IL is seeking a Controls Engineer to support an automated medical device manufacturing operation. The role blends traditional controls with OT, SCADA, and IT to enable a connected factory.

Onsite, full-time, with a salary in the $90k–$110k range. The ideal candidate will work with Manufacturing Engineering, IT, Automation, Maintenance, and Quality to improve connectivity, data visibility, and system reliability while expanding into Industry 4.0

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, Automation, Computer Engineering or related field.
• 2–5 years in industrial automation or manufacturing controls.
• Experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of SCADA systems and HMI platforms.
• Understanding of Manufacturing IT, OT, and industrial networking concepts.
• Experience supporting high-speed automated manufacturing equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across electrical controls, automation hardware, and networks.
• Excellent communication across Engineering, IT, Operations, and Quality.

Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment and automated production systems.
• Maintain and improve plant-level SCADA systems and visualization platforms.
• Assist OT initiatives, including manufacturing network connectivity and system integration.
• Support integration between production equipment, PLCs, SCADA, databases, and plant systems.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, IT, Controls, Quality, and Operations to improve reliability and performance.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, networks, HMIs, and manufacturing software.
• Participate in automation upgrades, commissioning, validation, and continuous improvement.
• Support data collection, reporting, and connected factory initiatives.
• Assist with troubleshooting automated material handling systems (ASRS, AGV).
• Develop and maintain controls documentation and network diagrams.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

SCADA

OT & industrial networking

HMI platforms

equipment maintenance

cross functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics or related

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Ignition / FactoryTalk / WinCC

Job description

Job Description

Controls Engineer – Manufacturing Systems & SCADA

Location: Buffalo Grove, IL

Hire Type: Direct Hire

Compensation: $90,000–$110,000 per year

Schedule: Full-Time | 100% Onsite

Position Overview

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support the continued growth of a highly automated medical device manufacturing operation in Buffalo Grove, IL. This role combines traditional controls engineering with manufacturing IT, SCADA, and Operational Technology (OT) integration to support a connected manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate will have experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled automation while also understanding plant-level SCADA systems, manufacturing networks, and system integration. This individual will partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, IT, Automation, Maintenance, and Quality teams to improve equipment connectivity, data visibility, and production system reliability.

This is an excellent opportunity for a junior to mid-level Controls Engineer looking to expand into smart manufacturing, digital factory initiatives, and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment and automated production systems.
• Maintain and improve plant-level SCADA systems and manufacturing visualization platforms.
• Assist with Operational Technology (OT) initiatives, including manufacturing network connectivity and system integration.
• Support integration between production equipment, PLCs, SCADA, manufacturing databases, and other plant systems.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, IT, Controls, Quality, and Operations to improve system reliability and production performance.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, industrial communication networks, HMIs, and manufacturing software.
• Participate in automation upgrades, equipment commissioning, validation, and continuous improvement projects.
• Support manufacturing data collection, reporting, and connected factory initiatives.
• Assist with troubleshooting automated material handling systems, including ASRS (Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems) and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) integration where applicable.
• Develop and maintain controls documentation, network architecture diagrams, and engineering standards.
• Work closely with equipment vendors and system integrators during new equipment installations and upgrades.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2–5 years of experience supporting industrial automation or manufacturing controls systems.
• Experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of SCADA systems and HMI platforms.
• Understanding of Manufacturing IT, Operational Technology (OT), and industrial networking concepts.
• Experience supporting high-speed automated manufacturing equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with electrical controls, automation hardware, and industrial communication networks.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across Engineering, IT, Operations, and Quality teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens PLC platforms.
• Familiarity with SCADA platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View SE, WinCC, Wonderware, or similar.
• Exposure to MES, manufacturing data collection systems, or historian platforms.
• Experience integrating production equipment with plant-level systems.
• Knowledge of Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, or other industrial communication protocols.
• Experience supporting ASRS, AGV, or other automated material handling systems.
• Experience within a medical device, pharmaceutical, food, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a controls engineer who enjoys working at the intersection of automation and manufacturing technology. They possess a strong foundation in PLCs and industrial controls while also understanding how automation systems connect to plant-wide SCADA, manufacturing IT, and Operational Technology (OT) environments. This individual is eager to support digital manufacturing initiatives, collaborate across multiple engineering disciplines, and help drive the evolution of a connected, high-performance manufacturing operation.