Controls Commissioning Engineer

Job Title: Controls Commissioning Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on testing, commissioning, and startup of advanced electrical and control systems for material handling applications in parcel, warehouse distribution, manufacturing, and automated storage and retrieval environments. You collaborate closely with customers, project managers, and cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, high-performance solutions while providing frequent status updates to both management and customers.

Responsibilities

• Implement and integrate electrical and control systems for material handling applications, including conveyance and sortation systems.
• Work cooperatively with engineering, design, production, and field service teams to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Perform functional testing of electrical and control systems to verify performance, reliability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Configure PLC and SCADA networks to support system communication, monitoring, and control.
• Execute formal test procedures and complete test documentation, forms, and reports accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with project management to provide frequent work status updates and communicate risks, issues, and progress.
• Support commissioning activities in live operating environments while maintaining safety, quality, and minimal disruption to operations.
• Assist with troubleshooting and resolving issues related to PLC, HMI, and control system performance during startup and commissioning.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance system performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Work on-site at customer facilities to support installation, startup, and upgrades of material handling equipment.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 1–5 years of experience in the control system industry.
• Strong understanding of control systems, including PLC, SCADA, HMI, and related automation technologies.
• Ability to modify PLC programs within one or more platforms such as Allen-Bradley (AB) and Siemens.
• Ability to modify HMI programs to support system operation and user interaction.
• Strong field experience with conveyance systems, including sortation logic, material handling, product tracking, merging, and related functions.
• Experience commissioning systems in live operational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with customers, project managers, and internal teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot control system issues in the field.
• Clear and professional communication skills for providing frequent status updates to management and customers.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with automating conveyance systems from design through commissioning.
• Instrumentation calibration and startup experience in industrial environments.
• Experience tuning sortation and merging systems for optimal throughput and performance.
• Prior work in the material handling industry, including parcel, warehouse distribution, manufacturing, or automated storage and retrieval systems.
• Hands-on experience with modern, state-of-the-art material handling equipment.
• Comfort working in fast-paced project environments with evolving priorities and deadlines.

Work Environment

This role supports multiple large-scale material handling facilities throughout the United States. You work primarily on-site at customer facilities, focusing on installation, commissioning, and upgrades of material handling equipment, including state-of-the-art systems in a high-volume distribution environment. The schedule typically consists of six working days per week with 10-hour shifts, with the possibility of additional hours as projects approach completion. The environment is industrial and fast-paced, requiring comfort working around operating machinery, conveyors, and automated systems, as well as adherence to all site safety practices and appropriate work attire such as standard industrial or construction clothing and personal protective equipment. Travel between project locations is required, and you will have opportunities to travel home during scheduled breaks. The role offers significant hands-on exposure to advanced automation technologies and modern material handling systems

This is a Contract position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $45.00/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 Chicago,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 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.

Salary : $40 - $45