Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Location: Loves Park, IL
Hire Type: Contract to Hire (longevity desired)
Compensation: $40-52 per hour depending on experience

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, PTO, and more!

Innovation & Technical Growth

Join a highly stable, industry-leading team investing in advanced automation, control systems, and evolving technologies. This is an excellent role for engineers who enjoy solving technical challenges, improving systems, and working with HMIs, PLCs, motion systems, robotics, and industrial networking.

Collaborative & Supportive Culture

Work side-by-side with experienced engineers who are committed to teaching, mentoring, and helping you build strong foundational and advanced skills. You'll have the freedom to ask questions, explore ideas, and continuously grow your capabilities.

Long-Term Career Development

Gain exposure to cross-functional projects, production environments, and new technologies-positioning you for future advancement within engineering, automation, or leadership paths.

What You'll Do:

• Support development and modification of control systems while following established engineering processes
• Gain hands-on familiarity with controls hardware including PLCs, HMIs, motion controllers, vision components, and related devices
• Assist with tracking project milestones, maintaining documentation, and supporting project coordination
• Troubleshoot basic production control issues using defined methods and guidance
• Support automation and system integration efforts

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent professional experience
• 1-5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment working with controls systems
• Knowledge of any of the following would be helpful: Ignition, Digital Factory, FactoryTalk, AutoCAD Electrical

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Meet Your Recruiter

Galen Schloming
Senior Technical Recruiter

Galen is a Senior Technical Recruiter at Sterling Engineering with nearly 14 years of recruiting and talent acquisition experience, spanning agency leadership, high-volume technical recruiting, and executive-level client partnership. Since joining Sterling in February 2026, he has brought a strategic, relationship-driven approach to supporting candidates and clients across manufacturing, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and more.

Galen is dedicated to solving complex hiring challenges and building trusted, long-term partnerships with candidates, hiring managers, and executives. He takes the time to understand each person's experience, goals, and career ambitions so he can help connect them with opportunities that align with both their skills and long-term direction.

For Galen, recruiting is about being an advocate and facilitator during important moments of transition and opportunity. He genuinely enjoys learning what motivates people and helping them take meaningful next steps in their careers while supporting companies in building strong, high-performing teams.

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About Loves Park, IL

Unlock your next career adventure in Loves Park, Illinois! Nestled in Winnebago County, this charming city offers a vibrant job market with diverse opportunities for growth and success. From the stunning landscapes of Rock Cut State Park to the adrenaline-pumping races at Rockford Speedway, and the tantalizing bites at the popular Beef-A-Roo restaurant chain, there's something for everyone in this dynamic region. Explore job listings in Loves Park today and discover why this area is the perfect place to elevate your career while enjoying a rich cultural scene, including visits to the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens, performances at the Nordlof Center, and cheering for the Rockford IceHogs hockey team at BMO Harris Bank Center. Start your career journey here and embrace the unique charm and endless possibilities Loves Park has to offer!