Controls Engineer – PLC Automation for Material Handling

Actalent; Lowell (MI); On-site; USD 48,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is hiring a Controls Engineer in Lowell, MI, to join a hands-on team delivering custom automation and material handling systems across North America. You will program Allen-Bradley PLCs, design electrical schematics with AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN, and support projects from concept to startup.

The role requires 3+ years in controls, strong troubleshooting, and excellent customer communication. It is an on-site, contract-to-hire position with travel up to 30% within the United States.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in controls or automation engineering.
• Proven experience programming Allen-Bradley PLCs, including developing programs from scratch.
• Experience creating and modifying electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Background in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing, or material handling systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in automated and electromechanical systems.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and collaborate effectively with multiple engineering disciplines.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort interacting directly with customers.
• Willingness to take on responsibilities beyond core controls work to support overall project success.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20–30% annually, primarily within the United States.

Responsibilities

• Program and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems for custom automation and material handling applications.
• Develop PLC programs from scratch for new systems and modify existing code to support upgrades and process improvements.
• Design and modify electrical schematics using AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN for control systems and panels.
• Collaborate with Mechanical Engineers, Project Managers, and other engineering teams to develop integrated automation solutions.
• Support projects from initial concept through system integration, commissioning, and startup.
• Participate in equipment testing, validation, and troubleshooting both in-house and at customer sites.
• Work directly with customers to support system installations, upgrades, and performance improvements.
• Assist with component selection, BOM creation, and purchasing for control system hardware.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including drawings, schematics, and test procedures.
• Provide engineering support on the production floor as systems are built, wired, and tested.
• Take on additional project responsibilities outside of core controls work as needed to ensure successful project delivery.
• Travel to customer sites approximately 20–30% for commissioning and support, primarily within the United States.

Skills

3+ years in controls/automation

Allen-Bradley PLC programming

AutoCAD Electrical schematics

Industrial automation background

Troubleshooting & problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Customer interaction skills

Travel 20–30%

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

HMI development tools

Job description

Actalent is hiring a Controls Engineer in Lowell, MI, to join a hands-on team delivering custom automation and material handling systems across North America. You will program Allen-Bradley PLCs, design electrical schematics with AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN, and support projects from concept to startup.

The role requires 3+ years in controls, strong troubleshooting, and excellent customer communication. It is an on-site, contract-to-hire position with travel up to 30% within the United States.