OT / Controls Engineer

SQA Group; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Long-term consulting

Job summary

SQA Group is seeking a hands-on OT Software Developer / PLC Controls Engineer to design, develop, test, and improve PLC and HMI applications for industrial equipment in an R&D environment.

The ideal candidate enjoys writing code, solving technical challenges, and building reliable, reusable software solutions, with hands-on experience in PLC programming and SCADA/HMI systems. Relocation to the Greater Boston area is welcome for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• 4–6+ years of hands-on PLC programming and OT software development.
• Experience with PLC design, development, and testing for industrial automation.
• Familiarity with SCADA/HMI platforms and integrating with PLCs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and enhance PLC-based industrial control software.
• Develop and configure SCADA/HMI applications using platforms such as Siemens WinCC, Ignition, AVEVA, Rockwell FactoryTalk, or similar technologies.
• Build modular, reusable software components to support industrial equipment and product development.
• Integrate PLC, HMI, and other industrial systems using communication protocols such as OPC DA/UA, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, or similar technologies.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and testers to integrate, troubleshoot, and validate software functionality on physical equipment in an R&D lab environment.
• Participate in Agile/Scrum development activities, including sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives, while working closely with the Product Owner and development team.
• Independently troubleshoot, debug, and optimize PLC/HMI applications, with an emphasis on new functionality, product enhancements, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to technical documentation, software design, and validation activities as appropriate.

Skills

PLC programming

SCADA/HMI development

Structured Text

Ladder Logic

FBD

OPC/Modbus/Ethernet/IP

GxP validation knowledge

Agile/Scrum

Team collaboration

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Siemens WinCC

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

CODESYS

Ignition

AVEVA

FactoryTalk

OPC UA/DA

Job description

SQA Group is seeking a hands-on OT Software Developer / PLC Controls Engineer to support the design and development of industrial automation software within an R&D product development environment.

This role is focused on designing, developing, testing, and improving PLC and HMI applications for industrial equipment. The ideal candidate is a developer at heart who enjoys writing code, solving technical challenges, and building reliable, reusable software solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and enhance PLC-based industrial control software using programming languages such as STL, Structured Text/SCL, Function Block Diagram (FBD), and Ladder Logic.
• Develop and configure SCADA/HMI applications using platforms such as Siemens WinCC, Ignition, AVEVA, Rockwell FactoryTalk, or similar technologies.
• Build modular, reusable, and maintainable software components to support industrial equipment and product development.
• Integrate PLC, HMI, and other industrial systems using communication protocols such as OPC DA/UA, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, or similar technologies.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and testers to integrate, troubleshoot, and validate software functionality on physical equipment in an R&D lab environment.
• Participate in Agile/Scrum development activities, including sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives, while working closely with the Product Owner and development team.
• Independently troubleshoot, debug, and optimize PLC/HMI applications, with an emphasis on new functionality, product enhancements, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to technical documentation, software design, and validation activities as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Approximately 4-6+ years of hands-on experience in PLC programming, industrial automation software development, or OT development. Candidates with additional experience are welcome, provided they remain actively involved in software development.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop, modify, debug, and test PLC applications.
• Hands-on programming experience with Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, CODESYS, or comparable PLC platforms.
• Proficiency in PLC programming languages such as Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Structured Text/SCL, or STL.
• Experience developing or configuring SCADA/HMI applications and integrating them with industrial control systems.
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols such as OPC, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, or similar.
• Exposure to GxP-regulated environments and GAMP 5 validation practices.
• Strong software development fundamentals, including modular design, reusable code, maintainability, and structured problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with software developers, hardware engineers, and testers in a team-oriented development environment.

Additional Information

• Long-term consulting opportunity
• Candidates must be willing to relocate if not currently local to the Greater Boston area

Thank you for your interest in working with SQA Group. SQA Group is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this position. The primary duties and responsibilities above are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job. This job description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.