Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer / Data & Control Systems Engineer

This hands-on Data & Control Systems Engineer role focuses on integrating, commissioning, activating, and operating advanced industrial control and fluid process systems that support critical launch infrastructure. Instead of a design-heavy position, this opportunity centers on bringing PLC-based systems online, validating performance, troubleshooting issues in the field, and ensuring that installed control and automation systems operate exactly as intended. You will collaborate closely with controls engineers, technicians, operations personnel, and vendors to deploy and support PLC-based control systems, SCADA platforms, instrumentation networks, and remote I/O architectures. This role is ideal for early-career engineers with internship, co-op, research, commissioning, automation, manufacturing, controls, or industrial systems experience who want to accelerate their engineering careers in a highly technical, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, activate, and commission PLC-based automation systems for advanced industrial and fluid process applications.
• Commission and validate PLC-to-SCADA communications, ensuring control functionality and data flows operate reliably and as designed.
• Verify remote I/O networks, instrumentation channels, and system communications to ensure accurate signal routing and system integrity.
• Perform startup, checkout, and troubleshooting activities for newly installed control and automation systems prior to operational handover.
• Support activation and operational readiness of critical infrastructure equipment associated with launch and process control systems.
• Conduct field walkdowns to confirm that installations match engineering drawings, P&IDs, and overall design intent.
• Validate instrumentation readings, sensor signals, valve control functionality, and I/O channel assignments to ensure accurate process control.
• Troubleshoot field issues involving instrumentation, controls, automation, and electrical systems, resolving problems quickly and effectively.
• Ensure systems are functioning properly and safely before turnover to operations teams and long-term production environments.
• Support highly automated fluid handling and process control systems, contributing to stable and efficient operations.
• Collaborate with vendors and installation teams during fabrication and construction activities to ensure proper integration of equipment and controls.
• Answer technical questions and resolve integration issues throughout project execution, acting as a key technical resource.
• Review and verify incoming equipment, panels, instrumentation, and controls packages to ensure they meet specifications and design requirements.
• Assist with technical acceptance testing and commissioning activities, documenting results and addressing any deficiencies.
• Update and modify electrical drawings, control schematics, and system documentation to reflect as-built conditions and ongoing changes.
• Interpret and review P&IDs, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and system layouts to guide installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure documentation accurately reflects field installations, configuration changes, and system upgrades.
• Support continuous improvement of automation, controls, and data acquisition systems by identifying enhancements and implementing updates.
• Analyze system performance and operational data to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for optimization.
• Identify and resolve reliability, instrumentation, and controls issues to improve system uptime and performance.
• Support a fast-paced manufacturing and operational environment where priorities can shift quickly, maintaining flexibility and responsiveness.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of experience in the design and deployment of PLC-based systems or building automation systems.
• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals, including understanding of Ohms Law, power distribution basics, conductor sizing, breakers and fuses, and electrical troubleshooting principles.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control drawings, and P&IDs.
• Hands-on experience commissioning industrial control systems and bringing PLC-based automation systems online.
• Experience integrating PLCs with SCADA systems, including configuration and validation of communications and control functionality.
• Exposure to PLC platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell / Allen-Bradley, National Instruments, or similar industrial automation platforms.
• Experience with industrial networking and communications protocols, including Profinet, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP.
• Understanding of remote I/O architectures, instrumentation systems, pressure transducers, automated valve controls, and process control systems.
• Experience using Electrical CAD software such as EPLAN and AutoCAD Electrical for creating and modifying control and electrical documentation.
• Ability and desire to work in a hands-on field engineering environment, including time spent on-site with hardware and instrumentation.
• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Physics, or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience supporting industrial automation environments such as manufacturing facilities, process industries, utilities, energy systems, semiconductor facilities, or aerospace operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in PLC design and PLC deployment, including configuration of control logic and hardware interfaces.
• Bonus experience designing motor control centers and associated power distribution and protection schemes.
• Bonus experience programming Siemens PLCs and working with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLC platforms.
• Experience in designing and deploying robotic cells, including integration of controls, safety, and communication systems.
• Familiarity with building automation systems and facility-level control architectures.
• Experience with data acquisition systems and continuous improvement of automation and controls.
• Background in commissioning and supporting highly automated fluid handling and process control systems.
• Comfort collaborating with vendors, installation teams, and multidisciplinary engineering and operations groups.
• Strong analytical skills for reviewing system performance and operational data to drive reliability and efficiency improvements.

Work Environment

The role is based in a highly technical, fast-paced industrial environment that supports critical launch infrastructure and advanced process control systems. You will spend significant time in the field working directly with hardware, PLC panels, instrumentation, remote I/O, and fluid handling systems, as well as time in an office setting reviewing drawings, configuring systems, and analyzing data. The work involves close collaboration with controls engineers, technicians, operations personnel, and vendors during fabrication, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operations. Expect dynamic priorities typical of manufacturing, process industries, utilities, energy systems, semiconductor facilities, and aerospace operations, with an emphasis on safety, reliability, and technical excellence. Dress and personal protective equipment will align with an industrial field and engineering environment, balancing office work with hands-on activities around operating equipment and infrastructure.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $41.00/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 26, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Kennedy Space Center, FL.

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