Controls Engineer

Job Title: Controls Engineer – Industrial Automation

Job Description

This role focuses on the design, programming, and troubleshooting of industrial automation systems, with a strong emphasis on Allen‑Bradley PLC programming. You will collaborate closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to ensure reliable and efficient production. The position offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects for different customers, either on-site at customer facilities in West Michigan or remotely from home, and to contribute to new automation equipment from concept through commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, modify, and troubleshoot Allen‑Bradley PLCs, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and MicroLogix platforms.
• Develop, configure, and support HMI applications using FactoryTalk View or similar HMI software.
• Diagnose and resolve controls and electrical issues on manufacturing and automation equipment to minimize downtime and improve reliability.
• Support system startups, commissioning, and debugging activities at customer sites and remotely.
• Create, read, and update electrical schematics to support controls design, troubleshooting, and modifications.
• Integrate and support robotics systems, including Fanuc and ABB robots, within automated production environments.
• Configure, program, and troubleshoot vision systems such as Keyence and Cognex to support inspection and automation tasks.
• Work with VFDs, servo systems, and related motion control components to ensure proper operation and integration with PLCs and HMIs.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to implement continuous improvement and automation projects.
• Provide customer-facing technical support, clearly communicate project status, and represent the company professionally at all times.
• Document programs, configurations, and system changes to ensure maintainability and knowledge transfer for future support.

Essential Skills

• Hands-on experience with Allen‑Bradley PLC programming, including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and MicroLogix.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve controls and electrical issues
• Familiarity with robotics systems, including Fanuc and ABB robots, integration
• Vision systems - Keyence and Cognex.
• Ability to read and work with electrical schematics for troubleshooting and design.
• Experience working with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and a methodical approach to problem solving in industrial environments.
• Positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills for effective customer-facing interactions.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple tasks and priorities.

"Nice to have" Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working for or with automation integrators or contractors.
• Background in supporting system startups, commissioning, and debugging at customer sites.
• Experience with industrial networking and communication between PLCs, HMIs, robots, and vision systems.
• Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and automation projects in a production environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and customers.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable working in a dynamic, project-based environment.

Work Environment

Schedule:

• Monday through Friday
• 40–50 hours per week depending on project demands
• You will split your time between working remotely from home and working on-site at customer facilities in the West Michigan area.

Some travel is required to support installation, commissioning, and startup of new equipment at customer sites, including occasional visits to different locations for local customers.

• Typically working in typical industrial and manufacturing environments around production equipment, robotics, and automation systems.

Culture emphasizes flexibility in where and how you complete your work, exposure to new and diverse customer projects, and the opportunity to contribute to a growing organization experiencing strong demand and rapid growth.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Nunica, MI.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/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)

This is a hybrid position in Nunica,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 20, 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 : $30 - $40