Controls Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Python-based software applications that collect and analyze data from production equipment across manufacturing plants.
• Develop, validate, and standardize controls device data parsing PLC logic, and own and update the automated PLC logic generation tool.
• Program and configure PLCs (including Rockwell, Siemens, and Fanuc) using appropriate programming languages such as Python and C++ to support device-level analytics solutions.
• Ensure all newly developed device-level analytics controls solutions comply with common controls hardware and software strategies.
• Ensure compliance with plant floor systems, networking standards, and cybersecurity requirements when deploying analytics solutions.
• Collaborate with core analytics teams, business stakeholders, IT, automation, and analytics communities to capture requirements, prioritize initiatives, and plan deployments.
• Create and maintain training materials, standardized work instructions, and documentation to support consistent deployment and use of the analytics platform.
• Stay current with industry trends in advanced analytics tools and explore opportunities to incorporate new technologies into device-level analytics solutions.
• Review observations and feedback from manufacturing plants, propose improvement solutions, and provide structured feedback to stakeholders.
• Provide training, guidance, and technical support to controls execution teams, strategic suppliers, and plant personnel as needed.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities on an as-needed basis to support pilots, tests, training sessions, upgrades, and integration of Python-based analytics software into plant equipment.
• Troubleshoot and debug PLC systems, including Rockwell-based PLCs, to ensure reliable data collection and system performance.
• Validate data collection processes and ensure successful implementation and commissioning of analytics systems within production environments.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of experience working with Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) PLCs, which may include experience gained through academic projects or internships.
• At least 1 year of Python coding experience, which may include experience gained from school or project work.

Essential Skills

• Experience with Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) PLCs.
• Python coding experience.

Work Environment

• The role is primarily based at a technical center in Warren, MI, where most software development, testing, and platform maintenance activities take place in an office and lab setting.
• The position requires travel several times per month, typically 2–3 days, to manufacturing sites across the United States to support pilots, integration, commissioning, training, and upgrades of the Python-based analytics solutions on production equipment.
• The work environment includes close collaboration with plant operations, controls, IT, and automation teams, and involves working around production machinery and plant floor systems while adhering to site safety practices and protocols.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Detroit, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $44.00/hr.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

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