Electrical Controls Engineer

Actalent is seeking applicants for an Electrical Controls Engineer to support an industrial client in the Portland Metro region. This is a direct hire opportunity.

About the role

This role focuses primarily on controls engineering, with approximately 70% of your time dedicated to PLC programming, automation integration, and machine startup, and about 30% devoted to electrical engineering tasks such as component selection and schematic development. You will work on cutting-edge automation projects involving robotics, machine vision, motion control, autonomous mobile robots, and custom manufacturing equipment, supporting multiple projects at different stages of the lifecycle from concept and design through programming, commissioning, and installation. This position offers a hands-on engineering environment, strong mentorship from senior controls engineers, and the opportunity to grow into a well-rounded automation engineer and future technical leader.

Responsibilities

• Program, modify, and debug PLC-based control systems for automation equipment using multiple platforms.
• Develop new PLC programs from scratch and update existing programs to support system changes and improvements.
• Configure I/O, tune control logic, and commission automation equipment to ensure reliable and safe operation.
• Troubleshoot automation systems during build, testing, debugging, and startup to resolve controls and electrical issues.
• Select appropriate controls components, including sensors, motors, drives, relays, safety devices, and other electrical hardware.
• Create and modify electrical schematics, control panel drawings, and wiring diagrams to support system design and integration.
• Review electrical designs for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with relevant standards and best practices.
• Develop controls solutions that integrate hardware and software to bring machines and systems online efficiently.
• Integrate robotics, machine vision, motion control, and other automation technologies into custom manufacturing equipment.
• Support between one and three projects at a time, ranging from short-duration efforts to large, multi-month initiatives.
• Prioritize tasks effectively and manage multiple competing deadlines while shifting between projects as needed.
• Participate in machine builds, testing, debugging, and startup activities in a hands-on engineering environment.
• Support automation integration activities, including system bring-up, on-site commissioning, and performance optimization.

Requirements

• Professional experience in controls engineering with a strong focus on PLC programming and automation integration.
• Hands-on PLC programming experience, including creating programs from scratch and modifying existing programs.
• Ability to configure I/O, debug PLC programs, and commission automation equipment in a production or project environment.
• Experience with Siemens PLCs and other PLC platforms, with sufficient depth to develop, modify, and troubleshoot control logic.
• Familiarity with Mitsubishi PLCs and PC-based control systems or the ability to learn new PLC platforms quickly.
• Experience with Allen Bradley / Rockwell PLCs is beneficial, even if not the primary platform used.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and wiring diagrams accurately.
• Basic electrical design knowledge, with the ability to support or develop control panel and system-level electrical designs.
• Experience with HMI programming and integration within automated systems.
• Proficiency in PLC troubleshooting and diagnosing automation issues involving controls and electrical components.
• Exposure to robotics and robotics engineering within an automation or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in controls engineering and control system design for industrial automation applications.
• Familiarity with ladder logic programming and related PLC programming environments such as RSLogix.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering principles as applied to industrial automation and control systems.

Qualifications

• BSEE and 5+ years of demonstrable experience within electrical and controls engineering (might consider strong 3+ years directly relatable).
• Experience with Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Allen Bradley PLC platforms, including RSLogix and FactoryTalk environments.
• HMI programming experience, including configuration and integration with PLC-based control systems.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Electrical or similar tools for creating and modifying electrical schematics and control panel drawings.
• Experience with SolidWorks Electrical or comparable schematic design software, with an emphasis on understanding how to build schematics rather than specific tool expertise.
• Background in robotics integration using platforms such as Universal Robots (UR) and Epson robots.
• Experience with machine vision systems, vision inspection solutions, and vision programming for automated inspection.
• Knowledge of servo systems, motion control, and integration of drives and motors into automated equipment.
• Understanding of industrial networks and communication between PLCs, HMIs, robots, and peripheral devices.
• Familiarity with industrial control panels, UL 508A panel standards, and electrical code compliance (nice to have).
• Awareness of NFPA 79 and industrial machinery electrical standards, including machine safety requirements (nice to have).
• Interest in expanding technical skills across controls, electrical design, robotics, machine vision, and system integration.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based within a hands-on engineering environment, where you will work closely with other engineers on automation projects. You will spend significant time working on PLC programming, HMI development, and electrical design at your workstation, as well as participating in machine builds, testing, debugging, and startup activities in a lab or shop setting. Travel is minimal and typically limited to supporting system startup or commissioning at customer sites when needed. The environment is collaborative and fast-paced, with multiple projects running in parallel and a strong emphasis on mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional growth. You will work with a wide range of technologies, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, servo systems, industrial networks, and electrical design tools, gaining exposure to diverse automation applications and project types.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000/yr. 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

• 2-3 weeks PTO (holiday, sick time)
• 401K match

Schedule

This is a fully onsite, permanent position based in Tualatin, OR.