Hybrid Controls Engineer II — PLC & HMI Expert

PTS Advance; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

PTS Advance is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer II to design, program, and troubleshoot PLC/HMI-based systems for our industrial automation projects. This role requires hands-on development, testing, and on-site support across customer sites.

The ideal candidate will have 4+ years of controls engineering experience, strong PLC/HMI skills, and the ability to travel during ramp-up. The position is Hybrid/Remote with travel to customer sites in the DMV region and Hanover, MD facility.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on controls engineering, automation, or industrial programming experience.
• Ability to independently develop PLC programs from scratch.
• Strong hands-on HMI programming and configuration experience.
• Experience commissioning and troubleshooting industrial control systems.
• Working knowledge of Modbus and Ethernet-based networks.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, specifications, and controls documentation.
• Strong customer-facing communication and technical problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to accommodate significant travel during the initial ramp-up period.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, develop, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI-based control systems.
• Develop PLC programs from the ground up based on customer specifications and system requirements.
• Support the complete controls lifecycle from requirements and controls development through FAT, startup, commissioning, and post-installation troubleshooting.
• Review customer specifications, control narratives, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
• Integrate controls with customer systems, third-party equipment, and multiple vendor platforms.
• Configure and troubleshoot industrial communications, including Modbus and Ethernet-based networks.
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and field service teams to resolve design and implementation challenges.
• Provide hands-on controls support during manufacturing, testing, installation, and commissioning.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for customers throughout project execution.
• Identify opportunities to improve controls standards, programming practices, documentation, and engineering processes.
• Develop technical documentation, training materials, procedures, and work instructions.
• Travel to company and customer facilities for project execution, commissioning, troubleshooting, and technical support.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Industrial automation

Troubleshooting

Customer communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC/SCADA environments

Job description

PTS Advance is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer II to design, program, and troubleshoot PLC/HMI-based systems for our industrial automation projects. This role requires hands-on development, testing, and on-site support across customer sites.

The ideal candidate will have 4+ years of controls engineering experience, strong PLC/HMI skills, and the ability to travel during ramp-up. The position is Hybrid/Remote with travel to customer sites in the DMV region and Hanover, MD facility.