Electrical Controls Engineer

Actalent; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

SIMPLE IRA

Paid vacation

Life insurance

Disability insurance

HSA contributions

401(k) / SIMPLE IRA

Job summary

Actalent in Louisville, KY is seeking an Electrical Controls Engineer to design and develop control systems for custom CNC machinery, producing complete electrical schematics and documentation while programming and maintaining PLC and CNC controls.

This role focuses on creating new design standards, writing ladder logic from scratch, and supporting production activities on the shop floor for project-based, non-repetitive work.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in controls engineering for CNC machinery and machining centers.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and troubleshooting, with a focus on FANUC PLCs and CNC controls or equivalent systems.

Responsibilities

• Produce detailed electrical schematics and documentation for CNC machinery and machining centers.
• Develop, program, and maintain control systems using FANUC PLC programming and ladder logic for CNC applications.
• Write Fanuc CNC ladder logic from scratch to support CNC motion and machine functionality.
• Create and update design standards using AutoCAD Electrical to ensure consistency and reliability across projects.
• Program and troubleshoot PLCs and CNC controls, including axis motion and programmable machine control functions.
• Support production on the shop floor by diagnosing control issues, implementing solutions, and optimizing machine performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to integrate controls into CNC machines on various platforms.
• Contribute to project-based work by adapting control solutions to a variety of industries, ensuring customized designs.
• Maintain accurate documentation of control programs, ladder logic, and electrical designs.

Skills

CNC controls

FANUC PLC programming

Ladder logic writing

AutoCAD Electrical

CNC axis control

Siemens Sinumerik

On-site troubleshooting

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

FANUC CNC

Siemens Sinumerik

Yaskawa

Haas controls

Job description

Job Title: Electrical Controls Engineer

This Electrical Controls Engineer designs and develops control systems for custom CNC machinery, producing complete electrical schematics and documentation while programming and maintaining PLC and CNC controls. This role focuses on creating new design standards, writing ladder logic from scratch, and supporting production activities on the shop floor for project-based, non-repetitive work.

Responsibilities

• Produce detailed electrical schematics and documentation for custom CNC machinery and machining centers.
• Develop, program, and maintain control systems using FANUC PLC programming and ladder logic for CNC applications.
• Write Fanuc CNC ladder logic from scratch to support CNC motion and machine functionality.
• Create and update design standards using AutoCAD Electrical to ensure consistency and reliability across projects.
• Program and troubleshoot PLCs and CNC controls, including axis motion and programmable machine control (PMC) functions.
• Support production on the shop floor by diagnosing control issues, implementing solutions, and optimizing machine performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to integrate controls into CNC machines running on Yaskawa, Fanuc, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Fagor, Heidenhain, Haas, and equivalent control platforms.
• Contribute to project-based work by adapting control solutions to a variety of industries, ensuring non-repetitive, customized machine designs.
• Maintain accurate documentation of control programs, ladder logic, and electrical designs for future reference and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience in controls engineering, specifically for CNC machinery and machining centers.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and troubleshooting, with a focus on FANUC PLCs and CNC controls or equivalent systems.
• Ability to write ladder logic from scratch for CNC machines and programmable machine control (PMC).
• Experience with Fanuc CNC programming, including CNC axis control and CNC motion.
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical for creating and modifying electrical schematics and design standards.
• Experience working with CNC machines controlled by Yaskawa, Fanuc, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Fagor, Heidenhain, Haas, or similar control platforms.
• Understanding of Siemens CNC systems, including Sinumerik and Siemens 840D, as well as related technologies such as Siemens One.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve control system issues in a production environment, supporting both office-based design and shop floor implementation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing and supporting CNC machining centers for industries such as wood, aerospace, energy, stone, glass, and transportation.
• Familiarity with a range of CNC control brands, including Siemens CNC, Heidenhain, Mitsubishi CNC, Haas controls, Fagor, and equivalent systems.
• Comfort working on project-based, non-repetitive assignments that require customized solutions and creative problem-solving.
• Interest in professional growth and expanding expertise in advanced CNC controls and automation technologies.

Work Environment

This position operates in both an office environment and a shop floor setting, providing a balance between design work and hands‑on production support. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with no travel required. The role involves working with CNC machining centers and related control technologies in a project-based environment, where each machine and application is tailored to specific industry needs.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Louisville, KY.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $130000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

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.

Employee Medical Benefits Package: Effective 90 days after start date (<-Negotiable - Can start upon employment)

• Employer pays 98% of single option health insurance premium towards any policy option.
• This package offers the opportunity to enroll in health CIGNA(OAP or HSA)
• Employee paid Guardian dental, and vision plans
• Health Equity sponsors HSA accounts and company contributes $10.00 per check into HSA account
• Employer paid $20,000 term life insurance with opportunity to buy up at employee’s expense
• Employer paid short term disability insurance
• Employer paid long term disability insurance
• Capital Group SIMPLE IRA (Class A Share level) participation after 1 year of employment with up to 3% employer matching funds
• Vacation: After 90 days 40 hours of PTO, after 1 year 80 hours of PTO, after 2 years 120 hours of PTO, after 5 years 160 hours of PTO (max). Employee has the option of carrying over a maximum of 240 hours per year, any additional time will be paid out on final pay check for the fiscal year ending on Dec 31st.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Louisville,KY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 30, 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.