Process Controls Engineer

Actalent; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Process Controls Engineer to lead municipal wastewater projects from design through startup and commissioning. You will own projects, design control panels, program PLC/SCADA systems, and support on-site startup, with travel as needed.

The role blends remote design work with field-based commissioning, requiring strong troubleshooting, HMI development, and cybersecurity best practices in industrial environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience designing industrial control panels.
• Experience with SCADA systems and field instrumentation.
• Willingness to travel 25–30% for commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control panels for municipal wastewater and related systems.
• Program PLCs and HMIs; configure SCADA software.
• Test and commission systems on-site and remotely as needed.
• Integrate field instrumentation and ensure cybersecurity best practices.

Skills

VTScada

PLC programming

HMI development

Control systems design

Field startup

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Rockwell FactoryTalk

Wonderware

AVEVA System Platform

PAC Display

Groov View

OSIsoft PI Historian

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Process Controls Engineer Job Description

The Process Controls Engineer supports municipal wastewater treatment projects from initial design through final startup and commissioning. You will take full ownership of projects, working independently across all phases of the project lifecycle, including control panel design, PLC and SCADA programming, system integration, testing, and on-site startup support. Projects vary in size and complexity, offering a mix of remote engineering work and field-based commissioning, with travel requirements that fluctuate depending on project phase and location.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control panels for municipal wastewater treatment and related industrial applications.
• Configure, program, and troubleshoot SCADA systems, with a focus on VTScada or similar platforms.
• Develop, program, and test PLC-based control systems for pumps, valves, instrumentation, and process equipment.
• Implement and tune analog control systems, including PID loops for pressure, flow, level, and other process variables.
• Design and integrate pump control, valve control, and related process control strategies for water and wastewater systems.
• Develop HMI screens and operator interfaces for monitoring and controlling process systems.
• Integrate field instrumentation, including pressure, flow, level, temperature, and analytical instruments, into control systems.
• Participate in system integration activities, ensuring seamless communication between PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, and field devices.
• Perform testing, simulation, and factory acceptance tests (FAT) to validate control system performance prior to deployment.
• Provide on-site startup and commissioning support, including system checkout, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
• Support the development and configuration of historian systems and high-availability SCADA architectures when applicable.
• Apply cybersecurity fundamentals and best practices to industrial control system environments.
• Collaborate with project teams, customers, and field personnel to clarify requirements, resolve issues, and ensure successful project delivery.
• Document designs, configurations, and test results to support project handover and long-term system maintenance.
• Travel to customer sites for day trips and overnight stays as needed during commissioning and field support phases.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on SCADA experience, with VTScada strongly preferred.
• Electrical design experience focused on industrial control panels.
• Proficiency in analog control systems, including pumps, valves, instrumentation, and pressure and flow control applications.
• Experience implementing and tuning PID loops for process control.
• Background in process control for water, wastewater, or similar industrial environments.
• PLC programming and HMI development experience using modern industrial automation platforms.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects from design through startup and commissioning.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25–30% of the time, including day trips and periodic overnight stays.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for control systems, instrumentation, and SCADA applications.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Opto 22 platforms, including PAC Control.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with design requirements for hazardous locations (such as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2).
• Familiarity with industrial instrumentation including pressure, flow, level, temperature, and analytical instruments.
• Scripting or development skills in HTML and CSS.
• Experience working with relational databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL.
• Experience with Rockwell FactoryTalk View SE/ME, Wonderware, AVEVA System Platform, PAC Display, or Groov View.
• Knowledge of OPC UA, historian configuration (for example, OSIsoft PI or Ignition Historian), and high-availability SCADA architectures.
• Understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals and frameworks (such as IEC and NIST) as applied to industrial control system environments.
• Experience in industries such as water and wastewater, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, steel mills, or food and beverage.
• Interest in gaining or expanding municipal wastewater experience.

Work Environment

The role offers a blend of remote design work and field-based startup activities. During design phases, you may work from home or an office with little to no travel for extended pe