Controls Engineer

About the role

This role is primarily field-based and requires frequent travel to client sites across the country, with travel expected at approximately 70% of the time. Typical travel schedules may include up to 10 consecutive days on a jobsite followed by 4 days off. Work is performed in warehouse and industrial environments where material handling and automation equipment are installed and commissioned.

The Controls Engineer designs and develops PLC programs for material handling equipment and warehouse automation systems. This position requires comprehensive knowledge of equipment, business needs, and customer requirements that drive the design of technical solutions. The Controls Engineer participates in all phases of the product development lifecycle, collaborates with other engineering staff involved in electrical hardware engineering, and works independently to resolve changing site requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop PLC programs for material handling equipment, including conveyors and related automation systems.
• Collaborate with internal engineering and project management teams, as well as customers, to determine system requirements and translate them into functional control solutions.
• Program control systems to support equipment operation and performance in warehouse automation environments.
• Support electrical installation activities by interfacing with electrical installers and providing technical guidance.
• Debug electrical installations, including controls and motor components, to ensure proper functionality and compliance with design specifications.
• Participate in all phases of the product development lifecycle, including analysis, design, electrical design, installation support, and commissioning.
• Independently resolve site-specific requirement changes and adapt control solutions to meet evolving customer and project needs.
• Collaborate with complementary engineering staff responsible for electrical hardware to ensure integrated and reliable system performance.
• Provide ongoing technical support during equipment installation and commissioning at client sites.
• Travel to client locations across the country to support installation, testing, debugging, and handover of control systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in controls engineering.
• Hands-on experience programming PLCs, with strong proficiency in Allen-Bradley platforms.
• Proficiency with Rockwell Automation software tools, including Studio 5000 and RSLogix.
• Experience working with material handling equipment and conveyor systems in automated environments.
• Ability to travel approximately 60–70% of the time to client sites across the country.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for controls and motor components during installation and commissioning.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing site requirements while maintaining project timelines.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with engineering teams, project management, installers, and customers.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in warehouse automation environments and exposure to state-of-the-art automation software.
• History in designing and supporting control systems for diversified client operations.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics and integrate control logic with electrical hardware designs.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail in debugging electrical installations.
• Comfort working in a fast-growing organization with expanding project demands and opportunities.
• Interest in long-term career growth within automation and controls engineering.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $55.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Schedule

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Raleigh, NC. Travel expenses are covered, and a daily per diem is available while traveling.