Controls Engineer
Actalent · New Melle, MO · Today
On-siteEngineering$35–$42/hrContract
About the role
The Controls Engineer supports highly automated, high-volume manufacturing operations with a strong focus on PLC-based control systems, robotics integration, and equipment reliability. In this role, you partner closely with manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering teams to support production, troubleshoot complex controls issues, and drive continuous improvement across the plant.
Responsibilities
- Support and improve automated manufacturing systems in a high-volume production environment, ensuring consistent throughput and equipment reliability.
- Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robotics, and industrial network issues that impact production, working in live manufacturing conditions to restore operations safely and quickly.
- Support new equipment installations, upgrades, and system modifications, including commissioning, programming, and integration into existing systems.
- Analyze production and fault data to identify root causes of downtime or quality issues and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Maintain controls documentation, standards, and backups, ensuring programs, configurations, and network settings are current and properly archived.
- Partner with cross-functional teams in manufacturing, maintenance, and engineering to improve system stability, uptime, and safety performance.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation reliability, process optimization, and reduction of unplanned downtime.
- Apply strong troubleshooting skills in live production environments to diagnose electrical and controls issues under time-sensitive conditions.
- Ensure controls systems and modifications align with plant standards, safety requirements, and best practices for industrial automation.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.
- Experience supporting automation in high-volume manufacturing operations.
- Hands-on experience with PLCs, including programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining PLC-based control systems.
- Hands-on experience with HMIs, including configuration, troubleshooting, and integration with PLCs and other controls hardware.
- Experience working with industrial networks in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong troubleshooting skills in live production environments, including the ability to diagnose issues quickly and safely under time pressure.
- Willingness and ability to work all three shifts and weekends as required.
Qualifications
- Experience working with robotics and robotic integration in automated manufacturing systems.
- Background in controls, electrical, and general engineering disciplines related to automation and industrial equipment.
- Experience with PLC programming and controls troubleshooting in complex, high-volume facilities.
- Exposure to continuous improvement initiatives focused on uptime, throughput, and system reliability.
- Interest in building a long-term career within a large original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturing network.
- Desire to work in a highly automated, modernized plant environment with significant investment in controls, robotics, and advanced tooling.