Controls Engineer – PLC/SCADA Automation (Contract)

GCS Recruitment; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment is seeking a Controls Engineer to design, develop, and optimize industrial automation systems in the San Francisco area. The role emphasizes PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, and system integration across manufacturing environments.

You will configure industrial networks and communication protocols, create control strategies, and support commissioning activities from FAT to production deployment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or equivalent in Electrical/Controls Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Hands-on experience programming PLCs using common platforms (Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, or CODESYS).
• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms (Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC, or Wonderware).
• Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical drawings.
• Willingness to travel for commissioning/site support.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or CODESYS).
• Develop and maintain HMI/SCADA applications for monitoring and control.
• Configure and integrate protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and Profinet.
• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, and sequences of operation.
• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT, startup, and deployment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams on automation projects.
• Produce technical docs including specs, test plans, and procedures.
• Perform root cause analysis and provide ongoing control system support.
• Assist with upgrades, migrations, and process improvement initiatives.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

Industrial networking

System integration

Commissioning

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

Siemens TIA Portal

CODESYS

Ignition

FactoryTalk View

WinCC

Wonderware

Job description

Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls Engineer
Location: San Fransico, CA
Duration: 12+ months Contract

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Controls Engineer to support the design, development, implementation, and optimization of industrial automation systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, industrial networking, system integration, and commissioning within manufacturing or process control environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and troubleshoot PLC control systems using platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or CODESYS.
• Develop and maintain HMI and SCADA applications for monitoring and controlling automated processes.
• Configure and integrate industrial communication protocols including EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and Profinet.
• Create control strategies, interlocks, alarms, and sequences of operation for automated equipment.
• Support system commissioning, FAT/SAT activities, startup, and production deployment.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and operations teams to deliver automation projects.
• Develop technical documentation including functional specifications, test plans, and operating procedures.
• Perform root cause analysis and provide ongoing troubleshooting and support for control systems.
• Assist with system upgrades, migrations, and process improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Hands-on experience programming PLCs using Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, or CODESYS.
• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View, WinCC, or Wonderware.
• Knowledge of industrial networks and communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, and technical drawings.
• Willingness to travel for commissioning and site support as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with motion control, VFDs, servo systems, and safety PLCs.
• Knowledge of MES, IIoT, and cloud-based industrial technologies.
• Experience with Python, SQL, or other scripting languages.
• Familiarity with Git version control and software development best practices.
• Exposure to material handling, warehouse automation, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing environments.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.