Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls EngineerJob Description

This role supports a leading automotive supplier that specializes in electronics, clean mobility, lighting, interiors, and lifecycle innovation. At this site, the team designs and manufactures tooling and weld equipment for North American plants. As a Controls Engineer, you design, program, and integrate electrical control systems and control cabinets for machinery, supporting both on-site operations and installations at regional facilities.

Responsibilities

• Design electrical control systems for tooling, weld equipment, and related machinery.
• Modify and program PLCs to support new equipment, process changes, and system improvements.
• Design and build control cabinets for machinery that has not yet been assembled, ensuring proper layout, wiring, and component selection.
• Travel to regional facilities to integrate, commission, and install control systems, providing on-site technical support.
• Identify and recommend appropriate electrical motors and power supplies based on application requirements.
• Configure and work within industrial ethernet communication networks such as DeviceNet, Profinet, and Profibus.
• Integrate and support safety PLCs and safe I/O, ensuring compliance with applicable safety standards.
• Apply knowledge of OSHA requirements and safety standards when designing and implementing control systems.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and production teams to troubleshoot and optimize control systems.
• Document control system designs, programs, and configurations for future maintenance and upgrades.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of professional controls engineering experience.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and modification, including Allen-Bradley PLCs using RSLogix 500 and RSLogix 5000.
• Hands-on experience with control system design for industrial machinery and automation equipment.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering principles related to automation and controls.
• Experience with HMI programming and integration into control systems.
• Ability to design, wire, and troubleshoot control cabinets and electrical panels.
• Proficiency with ethernet networking in industrial environments, including Profibus, Profinet, and DeviceNet.
• Experience working with ladder logic and Rockwell automation platforms.
• Ability to work with and integrate I/O modules and safety-related controls.
• Understanding of OSHA requirements and general industrial safety standards.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with safety PLCs and safe I/O systems.
• Familiarity with Structured Text programming for PLCs.
• Experience in automation and controls engineering within an automotive or manufacturing environment.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for control systems, electrical issues, and network communications.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts clearly.
• Willingness and ability to travel to regional sites as needed.

Work Environment

This position is based fully on-site in a clean, climate-controlled manufacturing and engineering environment. The schedule is typically five days per week, eight hours per day, with occasional overtime based on project needs. Travel of approximately 25% is expected to regional facilities, including locations in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, for system integration, installation, and support. The role involves working with modern automation and control technologies, including PLCs, HMIs, industrial ethernet networks, and safety systems, within a professional, safety-focused setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Columbus, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.87 - $55.29/hr.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Columbus,IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 11, 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 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.

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.