Controls & Automation Engineer

Job Description

Title: Controls & Automation Engineer

Location: Delavan, WI

Pay Range: $110k-115k per year

Hire Type: Direct Hire
Industry: Food & Beverage / Industrial Automation

Comprehensive Benefits Package

This is an exciting opportunity for an automation engineer who wants to move beyond traditional controls programming and play a significant role in product development, electronics, industrial communications, IIoT, and connected equipment. You'll help develop innovative control solutions for pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and other process equipment while collaborating with engineering teams, customers, suppliers, and development partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems and electronic modules for process equipment and valve control applications
• Develop hardware and firmware solutions for control units, including PCB layouts and microcontroller programming
• Develop PLC and HMI programs, control narratives, I/O lists, and instrumentation specifications
• Program and integrate industrial communication technologies including IO-Link, AS-i, DeviceNet, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, OPC UA, Modbus TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, and MQTT
• Design and implement IIoT solutions for real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance
• Develop PC-based interface tools for equipment setup, diagnostics, and troubleshooting
• Create and execute verification and validation test plans for functional samples and production equipment
• Lead automation and product development projects from concept through validation, industrial release, and manufacturing handoff
• Participate in customer meetings, product launches, design reviews, and project progress reviews

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Must have 5+ years of automation engineering experience, preferably within food, beverage, sanitary, or process equipment industries
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience
• Experience with HMI/SCADA platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, FactoryTalk, Ignition, or Wonderware
• Strong understanding of electronic design, circuit design, PCBA layout, digital signal processing, and microcontroller programming
• Familiarity with IoT/IIoT technologies and industrial communication protocols

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Next-Generation Technology: Work at the intersection of automation, electronics, connectivity, and IIoT to develop smarter industrial equipment.
• Product Development Ownership: Help take new control technologies from concept through validation and production.
• Technical Variety: Combine PLCs, HMI/SCADA, embedded programming, PCB design, industrial networking, and connected-device technologies.
• Global Exposure: Collaborate with engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and development partners across a broad organization.
• High-Visibility Work: Your designs and technical decisions will directly influence the next generation of process equipment.
• Innovation-Focused Environment: Evaluate and implement emerging automation and connectivity technologies rather than simply maintaining existing systems.
• Career Growth: Expand your expertise across controls, electronics, IIoT, product development, and industrial automation.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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 Delavan, WI

Ready to embark on an exciting career journey in the heart of charming Delavan, Wisconsin? Discover exceptional job opportunities in this vibrant region renowned for its serene lakes, rolling greenery, and thriving industries. Delavan offers a unique blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities, making it an ideal place to live, work, and play. From exploring the historic St. Andrew's Church to savoring the local delicacies at the Brick Street Market or catching a show at the vibrant Phoenix Park Bandshell, there's never a dull moment in this bustling community. Whether you're a nature enthusiast eager to explore the tranquil Delavan Lake or a culture buff looking to visit the Turtle Creek Gallery, this area has something for everyone. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this dynamic community - check out our job listings today and take the first step towards an exciting career in Delavan!