Automation Engineer

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services, helping visionary companies advance their initiatives through specialized experts who drive scale, innovation, and speed to market.

About the role

The Automation Engineer will support, maintain, and troubleshoot plant automation systems in a highly technical manufacturing environment. This role focuses on ensuring reliable operation of programmable logic controllers, human machine interfaces, motion and drive systems, industrial communication networks, and a wide range of electronic control components. The engineer will contribute to process improvements, automation enhancements, manufacturing efficiency, and large-scale production operations.

Responsibilities

• Support, troubleshoot, and maintain plant automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, servo drives, and variable frequency drives.
• Diagnose and resolve issues with digital and analog I/O systems and process control signals such as 4–20 mA, 0–10 V, and discrete I/O.
• Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, including Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, and related protocols.
• Support and maintain motion control systems and encoders to ensure accurate and reliable machine motion.
• Troubleshoot and repair electronic components such as relays, relay logic, AC/DC power supplies, contactors, and motor starters.
• Maintain and repair various industrial sensors, including photoelectric, proximity, pressure, temperature, flow, and level sensors.
• Work with timers, counters, signal conditioners, terminal blocks, fuses, breakers, and protection devices to ensure safe and reliable operation.
• Support and troubleshoot control transformers and interface modules within control panels and automation systems.
• Collaborate with other engineers and plant personnel to improve automation reliability, process performance, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Apply PLC troubleshooting and programming skills to resolve equipment issues, minimize downtime, and optimize production processes.
• Document troubleshooting steps, system changes, and improvements to support knowledge sharing and future maintenance activities.
• Work proactively in an environment with older equipment, identifying root causes of recurring issues and recommending long-term solutions.

Requirements

• Permanent position based in New Brunswick, NJ.
• Fully onsite role.

Pay

$90,000.00 – $95,000.00 per year.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness
  • Medical insurance (PPO and HDHP options)
  • Dental & vision insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Life insurance & AD&D
  • Short- and long-term disability
  • Mental health benefits and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Financial & Retirement
  • 401(k) retirement plan (with employer match, varies by plan/era)
  • Performance bonuses (role-dependent)
  • Tuition reimbursement / education assistance
  • Equity or incentive plans (eligible roles)