Senior Controls Engineer – Industrial Automation

GCS Recruitment; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment is assisting a leading automation systems provider in Seattle to hire a hands-on Controls Engineer. You will design and develop machine control software, integrate industrial hardware, and support deployment of large-scale automation solutions.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in automation, strong PLC skills (IEC 61131-3 ST), and experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens platforms, plus expertise in state-machine based control logic and industrial networks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or machine control development.
• Strong PLC programming experience using IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
• Proven experience developing state-machine based control logic.
• Hands-on experience integrating motors, drives, sensors, actuators, and industrial networks.
• Experience with EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and control drawings.
• Familiarity with Linux-based industrial systems and version control tools (Git).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain machine control software.
• Design reusable control modules and automation solutions.
• Integrate and validate hardware in lab and production environments.
• Troubleshoot control systems and industrial networks.
• Participate in requirements gathering, code reviews, testing, and deployment activities.

Skills

5+ years experience

IEC 61131-3 Structured Text

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Allen-Bradley

Siemens PLC platforms

state-machine control logic

industrial hardware integration

industrial networks

EtherCAT

EtherNet/IP

Profinet

Modbus

read electrical schematics

Git

Linux-based systems

Tools

Git

Linux

Job description

Controls Engineer

Our client is seeking a Controls Engineer to support the development of next-generation material handling and conveyance control systems. This role involves designing and developing machine control software, integrating industrial hardware, and supporting deployment of large-scale automation solutions.

Key Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or machine control development
• Strong PLC programming experience using IEC 61131-3 Structured Text
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms
• Proven experience developing state-machine based control logic
• Hands-on experience integrating motors, drives, sensors, actuators, and industrial networks
• Experience with EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus
• Ability to read electrical schematics and control drawings
• Familiarity with Linux-based industrial systems and version control tools (Git)

Nice to Have

• Experience with CODESYS V3
• Material handling, conveyor, sortation, or warehouse automation experience
• IO-Link integration experience
• JSON/configuration-driven applications
• HMI/SCADA development and commissioning experience

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain machine control software
• Design reusable control modules and automation solutions
• Integrate and validate hardware in lab and production environments
• Troubleshoot control systems and industrial networks
• Participate in requirements gathering, code reviews, testing, and deployment activities

Ideal Candidate: A hands-on Controls Engineer with strong PLC and Structured Text experience, industrial hardware integration expertise, and a passion for building scalable automation systems.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.