Lead System Engineer

Actalent; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Job summary

Actalent is hiring an Automation Engineer in Cincinnati, OH, to integrate, automate, and troubleshoot control systems for a range of customers. The role focuses on modifying code in Rockwell/Siemens platforms and provisioning projects from design through commissioning.

The engineer will program controllers, design electrical cabinets, and collaborate with clients and project teams to ensure performance and compliance. This is a contract-to-hire, onsite role with travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in electrical, controls, or automation engineering.
• 2–8 years of experience in automation or controls environments.
• Experience with Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms.
• Experience in panel design and panel wiring for industrial control.

Responsibilities

• Integrate, automate, and troubleshoot control systems from concept through commissioning.
• Program controllers using Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms to meet specs.
• Travel to client sites for project meetings and system commissioning activities.

Skills

Automation experience

Rockwell PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Panel design & wiring

Client interfacing

Mentoring juniors

Travel up to 25%

Education

Electrical/Controls/Automation Engineering degree

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000 / RSLogix

Siemens TIA Portal

Job description

Job Title: Automation Engineer

The Automation Engineer is responsible for integrating, automating, and troubleshooting control systems for a diverse range of customers. This role focuses primarily on modifying code in Rockwell platforms, programming controllers, and supporting projects from initial design through to final commissioning. The engineer typically manages one project at a time, with occasional periods of handling up to two or three projects within a short timeframe.

Responsibilities

• Integrate, automate, and troubleshoot control systems for various customer projects from concept through commissioning.
• Participate in design meetings and conference calls to interface directly with clients, understand requirements, and provide technical input.
• Collaborate with the project team, provide guidance to less experienced engineers, and follow direction from the project manager or lead engineer.
• Program controllers using Rockwell and Siemens PLC platforms to meet project specifications and performance requirements.
• Design electrical control cabinets and panels, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and best practices.
• Develop and review electrical design documentation, including panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and related schematics.
• Configure, test, and validate system functionality to verify that all control components and software operate as intended.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues identified during testing and commissioning, making necessary adjustments to code and hardware.
• Travel to client sites for project meetings to support design reviews, technical discussions, and on‑site collaboration.
• Travel to client sites for system commissioning, overseeing installation, startup, and handover of automated systems.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in automation engineering and control systems integration.
• Hands‑on experience working with PLCs and control systems, including programming and troubleshooting.
• Strong proficiency with Rockwell platforms, with at least 2+ years of working experience demonstrating advanced capability.
• Ability to program controllers using Rockwell and Siemens PLCs.
• Experience designing electrical control cabinets and panels, including panel wiring and layout.
• Solid understanding of electrical design principles related to industrial control systems.
• Ability to test and validate system configurations to verify proper functionality.
• Strong communication skills for interfacing with clients in design meetings and conference calls.
• Ability to work effectively within a project team, leading less experienced engineers while taking direction from project leadership.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% for project meetings and system commissioning.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Engineering degree in a relevant discipline such as electrical, controls, or automation engineering.
• 2–8 years of overall engineering experience in automation or controls environments.
• Experience with Siemens PLC platforms in addition to Rockwell systems.
• Experience in panel design and panel wiring for industrial control applications.
• Exposure to manufacturing environments and bringing automated products and systems to life.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities and attention to detail in both software and hardware design.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a short time frame while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.

Work Environment

The role is primarily based in a clean office environment, with regular collaboration in design meetings and conference calls. The Automation Engineer occasionally works in manufacturing settings where automated products and systems are built and commissioned, providing hands‑on exposure to equipment and real‑world applications. Travel to client sites, up to approximately 25% of the time, is required for project meetings and system commissioning activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cincinnati, OH.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $62.50/hr.

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.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Cincinnati,OH. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 7, 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.