Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Job Description

The Controls Engineer supports a manufacturing plant by providing expert electrical maintenance, PLC and robot programming, and controls engineering to maximize equipment uptime and performance. This role leads equipment improvement projects, participates in new equipment design and launch activities, and develops plant electricians to strengthen the overall technical capability of the facility.

Responsibilities

• Support the plant in all aspects of electrical maintenance troubleshooting by using PLC and robot programming skills and a thorough understanding of each machine’s sequence of operations.
• Diagnose and resolve controls-related equipment issues to minimize downtime and maintain stable production.
• Participate in new equipment design reviews, assessing machine designs against plant specifications and good design practices, and provide clear technical input and recommendations.
• Manage electrical spare parts in the tool crib to ensure adequate availability of controls-related components to support potential equipment failures.
• Respond quickly to equipment downtime issues in the plant and coordinate any required external resources to restore operations as rapidly as possible.
• Train and develop plant electricians to improve their ability to understand, maintain, and troubleshoot controls-related systems and equipment.
• Lead both large and small equipment improvement projects in the plant, from concept through implementation, to enhance reliability, safety, and efficiency.
• Complete capital equipment lists for secondary equipment required for programs, including detailed cycle time requirements and performance expectations.
• Write detailed engineering specifications for all tooling and equipment to be purchased, ensuring inclusion of all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Select suppliers for capital equipment based on technical capability, compliance with specifications, and alignment with plant requirements.
• Plan and coordinate training needs for the plant related to new equipment, ensuring that plant personnel receive appropriate instruction and support.
• Integrate with launch teams to successfully transfer new technologies and programs into the plant, ensuring smooth handover and robust production readiness.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science, or a bachelor’s degree combined with equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience as a Controls Engineer at a system integrator (preferred) or in a manufacturing facility.
• Strong expertise in controls engineering, including PLC-based control systems and industrial automation.
• Expert-level skills in programming and troubleshooting ABB robots (preferred) and/or Yaskawa (Motoman) robots.
• Proficiency in programming with Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 Designer (RSLogix 5000) and RSLogix 500 PLC software.
• Ability to develop and support applications using Studio 5000 View and FactoryTalk View HMI development software.
• Strong teamwork capabilities with the ability to operate effectively in a multi-function environment to improve operations and resolve technical issues.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex electrical and controls issues using a structured and systematic approach.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working for a system integrator supporting multiple automated systems and customers.
• Manufacturing environments with automated equipment and robotics.
• Ability to write clear, detailed engineering specifications and technical documentation.
• Experience managing equipment improvement projects, including planning, execution, and follow-up.
• Strong communication skills to effectively train and mentor electricians and collaborate with cross-functional launch teams.
• Familiarity with legislative and regulatory requirements related to industrial equipment and controls.

Work Environment

The role operates in a manufacturing environment with automated machinery, PLC-based control systems, and industrial robots. The Controls Engineer spends time both on the plant floor, working directly with equipment and electricians, and in an office or engineering area performing programming, documentation, and design review tasks. The position involves hands-on work around production equipment, requiring adherence to standard industrial safety practices and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Work hours typically follow standard plant operating schedules, with flexibility needed to respond to equipment downtime, support launches, and complete critical projects.

This is a Permanent position based out of Florence, SC.

The pay range for this position is $115000.00 - $125000.00/yr.

Otis has top notch benefits with two weeks vacation, 401k match, holidays, and more

This is a fully onsite position in Florence,SC.

This position is anticipated to close on May 5, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000 extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.

Salary : $115,000 - $125,000