Senior Controls Engineer: PLC/HMI, Field Commissioning Lead

Actalent; Lake Orion (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

PTO

Sick pay

Job summary

Actalent, based in the United States, is seeking a Controls Engineer with strong PLC/HMI expertise to design, program, and commission industrial automation systems. The role blends field work, software development, and mentoring within a collaborative engineering team.

You will own projects from concept through commissioning, develop I/O trees, configure HMI, and integrate vision systems, with travel 30%–65% to customer sites. On-site role in Lake Orion, MI.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with Siemens and/or Allen-Bradley PLCs in industrial automation.
• 5+ years of experience interpreting electrical diagrams and creating I/O trees from scratch.
• 5+ years of experience developing and supporting HMI applications for industrial control systems.
• Strong proficiency in PLC programming with AB and Siemens platforms.
• Ability to confidently commission devices and systems in the field.
• Proven experience debugging PLC programs, HMI screens, and control systems in live environments.
• Hands-on experience with vision systems as part of automated control solutions.
• Working knowledge of Beckhoff or similar automation platforms.
• Strong understanding of industrial control systems, I/O architecture, and electrical schematics.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% to 65% of the time for site-based work.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and modify PLC software for automation systems using Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms, ensuring reliable and efficient operation.
• Lead automation projects from concept to completion, including requirements review, control strategy design, software development, testing, and final handover.
• Create, configure, and maintain I/O trees from scratch based on electrical diagrams, ensuring accurate mapping between hardware and software.
• Interpret and work from electrical diagrams to design and implement control logic and system architecture.
• Commission devices and systems in the field, verifying correct operation and making necessary adjustments.
• Debug PLC programs, HMI screens, and control systems to identify root causes of issues and implement corrective actions.
• Design, develop, and configure HMI applications to provide intuitive operator interfaces and clear visualization of system status.
• Integrate and support vision systems and related automation hardware as part of overall control solutions.
• Collaborate with other engineers and technical staff to plan, coordinate, and execute automation projects in industrial environments.
• Travel to customer sites approximately 30% to 65% of the time to support commissioning, troubleshooting, and project implementation activities.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and training to less experienced engineers, helping them develop technical skills and best practices.
• Contribute to a supportive, learning-focused team culture by sharing knowledge, participating in code reviews, and offering constructive feedback.

Skills

PLC programming

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

HMI development

Field commissioning

Vision systems

Electrical diagrams

I/O tree design

Electrical schematics

Mentoring

Tools

Beckhoff

Job description

Actalent, based in the United States, is seeking a Controls Engineer with strong PLC/HMI expertise to design, program, and commission industrial automation systems. The role blends field work, software development, and mentoring within a collaborative engineering team.

You will own projects from concept through commissioning, develop I/O trees, configure HMI, and integrate vision systems, with travel 30%–65% to customer sites. On-site role in Lake Orion, MI.