Controls Engineer - Junior

Position Overview

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to support the continued growth of a highly automated medical device manufacturing operation in Buffalo Grove, IL. This role combines traditional controls engineering with manufacturing IT, SCADA, and Operational Technology (OT) integration to support a connected manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment and automated production systems.
• Maintain and improve plant-level SCADA systems and manufacturing visualization platforms.
• Aid in Operational Technology (OT) initiatives, including manufacturing network connectivity and system integration.
• Support integration between production equipment, PLCs, SCADA, manufacturing databases, and other plant systems.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, IT, Automation, Maintenance, and Quality teams to improve system reliability and production performance.
• Troubleshoot automation hardware, industrial communication networks, HMIs, and manufacturing software.
• Participate in automation upgrades, equipment commissioning, validation, and continuous improvement projects.
• Support manufacturing data collection, reporting, and connected factory initiatives.
• Assist with troubleshooting automated material handling systems, including ASRS (Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems) and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) integration where applicable.
• Develop and maintain controls documentation, network architecture diagrams, and engineering standards.
• Work closely with equipment vendors and system integrators during new equipment installations and upgrades.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2-5 years of experience supporting industrial automation or manufacturing controls systems.
• Experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of SCADA systems and HMI platforms.
• Understanding of Manufacturing IT, Operational Technology (OT), and industrial networking concepts.
• Experience supporting high-speed automated manufacturing equipment.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with electrical controls, automation hardware, and industrial communication networks.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across Engineering, IT, Operations, and Quality teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens PLC platforms.
• Familiarity with SCADA platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View SE, WinCC, Wonderware, or similar.
• Exposure to MES, manufacturing data collection systems, or historian platforms.
• Experience integrating production equipment with plant-level systems.
• Knowledge of Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, or other industrial communication protocols.
• Experience supporting ASRS, AGV, or other automated material handling systems.
• Experience within a medical device, pharmaceutical, food, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment.