Controls Engineer - PLC, Motion, Onsite Commissioning

Actalent; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Saint Paul, MN is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and implement cost-effective control systems for custom machinery. You will work with project teams and shop personnel on hardware design, PLC/HMI programming, safety analysis, and documentation.

Travel is ~10–20% for installation, commissioning, and customer training; this onsite role emphasizes engineering standards and continuous improvement in automated equipment control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 2+ years relevant experience.
• Extensive PLC programming experience across platforms.
• Hands-on with Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs.
• Proficiency in PLC/HMI programming for Allen-Bradley.
• Familiarity with IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Experience with servo-based motion control.
• Electrical design and control panel layout experience.
• Experience with electrical schematics, BOMs, P&IDs, manuals.
• Basic networking knowledge (TCP/IP) and Ethernet/IP.
• Practical experience in automated equipment controls.

Responsibilities

• Develop cost-effective control systems for custom machinery, including hardware design, PLC/HMI programming, safety analysis, and documentation.
• Identify technical challenges early in the project and develop practical solutions.
• Coordinate with shop personnel during electrical assembly for accurate build-out.
• Participate in control system debug activities and troubleshooting.
• Support on-site installation and commissioning of control systems.
• Provide customer training on operation, safety, and maintenance.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

IEC 61131-3 languages

Servo motion control

Electrical design

Control panel layout

Documentation (Schematic, BOM, P&ID)

TCP/IP networking

Ethernet/IP

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs (Rockwell)

Rockwell Automation environments

Servo motion controllers

PLC/HMI tooling

Job description

Actalent in Saint Paul, MN is seeking a Controls Engineer to design and implement cost-effective control systems for custom machinery. You will work with project teams and shop personnel on hardware design, PLC/HMI programming, safety analysis, and documentation.

Travel is ~10–20% for installation, commissioning, and customer training; this onsite role emphasizes engineering standards and continuous improvement in automated equipment control.