Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Job Description

The Controls Engineer develops and standardizes PLC logic and related tools to support advanced manufacturing controls solutions. This role focuses on creating and validating controls devices data parsing logic, ensuring alignment with common controls strategies, plant floor systems, and cybersecurity requirements. The Controls Engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to design, implement, and improve controls solutions, while providing documentation, training, and on-site support at manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and standardize controls devices data parsing PLC logic to support advanced manufacturing applications.
• Own, maintain, and update an automated PLC logic generation tool to improve efficiency and consistency across deployments.
• Design and implement PLC logic using platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, and Fanuc, integrating with programming languages like Python and C++.
• Ensure all newly developed controls solutions comply with common controls hardware and software strategies.
• Ensure compliance with plant floor systems, networking standards, and cybersecurity requirements for all controls implementations.
• Collaborate with core engineering, business, IT, automation, and analytics teams to capture requirements, prioritize initiatives, and plan implementation activities.
• Support controls, networks, and IT architects in developing and testing controls software, including incorporating new logic into core PLC templates.
• Create and maintain training documents, standardized work instructions, and other technical documentation to support consistent execution.
• Monitor and understand the latest industry trends in controls and analytics, and explore opportunities to apply advanced analytics tools to manufacturing processes.
• Review observations and feedback from manufacturing plants, propose improvement solutions, and provide guidance to execution teams and strategic suppliers.
• Provide training, coaching, and technical support to plant teams and controls execution groups as needed.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities as required for pilots, testing, training, upgrades, and implementation support.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with Siemens PLC programming, including development and troubleshooting of PLC logic.
• Proficiency with major PLC platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, and Fanuc.
• Practical experience using programming languages such as Python and C++ in support of controls and automation solutions.
• Ability to design, validate, and standardize controls devices data parsing logic for manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of controls hardware and software strategies and the ability to ensure compliance with established standards.
• Knowledge of plant floor systems, industrial networking, and cybersecurity requirements related to controls systems.
• Ability to create clear, accurate technical documentation, training materials, and standardized work instructions.
• Capability to collaborate effectively with engineering, IT, automation, and analytics teams on complex projects.
• Willingness and ability to travel to manufacturing facilities for pilots, testing, training, and upgrades as needed.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with advanced analytics tools and methods applied to manufacturing and controls data.
• Experience integrating PLC logic with data analytics or IT systems in a production environment.
• Experience in supporting plant teams and strategic suppliers with training and technical guidance.
• Experience working with core PLC templates and standardized controls architectures.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze observations from manufacturing plants and propose practical improvement solutions.
• Effective communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and delivery of training sessions.

Work Environment

This role operates within a highly automated manufacturing and industrial controls environment, working with PLC platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, and Fanuc, along with programming tools like Python and C++. The position involves close collaboration with engineering, IT, automation, analytics, and plant operations teams, both remotely and on site. Work includes a mix of office-based tasks, such as logic development and documentation, and time spent on the plant floor during pilots, tests, trainings, and upgrades. Travel to manufacturing facilities is required on an as-needed basis to support implementation, testing, and training activities.

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

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $42.00/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.

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 • 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)

This is a fully onsite position in Warren,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.