Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Controls Engineer

Job Description

This Controls Engineer role focuses on providing first-line technical support and service to customers in the southeastern United States, primarily poultry hatcheries located near Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. The position combines mechanical and electrical expertise with strong customer service to install, troubleshoot, and maintain spraying and application systems used across a growing range of industries, including food processing. The role offers comprehensive training, long-term stability, and the opportunity to work with innovative, cutting-edge application technologies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary first-response field service contact for customer issues and service calls in the southeastern region, particularly around Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama.
• Install, commission, maintain, and troubleshoot spraying and application systems at customer facilities, ensuring equipment operates safely and efficiently.
• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, and control-related issues on-site, including AC and DC circuit problems and related components.
• Perform field service activities such as inspections, adjustments, repairs, and replacements of system components to minimize downtime for customers.
• Use PLC programming and controls engineering knowledge to assist in diagnosing and correcting control system issues where applicable.
• Provide clear, professional communication with customers to understand issues, explain findings, and recommend solutions in a customer service–oriented manner.
• Document service visits, findings, repairs, and recommendations accurately and promptly, following company processes and standards.
• Collaborate with other Field Service Engineers and internal teams to share knowledge, support complex issues, and ensure consistent service quality.
• Participate in initial and ongoing training to learn the company’s systems, technologies, and industry applications, and apply that knowledge in the field.
• Shadow experienced Field Service Engineers during the initial period to gain a thorough understanding of the business, equipment, and territory.
• Travel as needed within the assigned territory to support customer needs and respond to service calls in a timely manner.
• Support customers in a variety of industries, including poultry hatcheries and emerging sectors such as bakeries, food processing, and dairy manufacturing.

Essential Skills

• Mechanical and electrical background with hands-on experience in field service, troubleshooting, or related technical roles.
• Working knowledge of AC and DC circuits and the ability to apply this knowledge in diagnosing and repairing equipment.
• Experience or aptitude in controls engineering and PLC programming sufficient to assist with control system troubleshooting.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for both mechanical and electrical systems, with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Customer service–oriented mindset with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and confidently with customers in the field.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent technical aptitude and experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to document work and interact with customers and internal teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the southeastern region to support customer sites as needed.
• Basic electrical aptitude and a strong desire to learn new systems, technologies, and industry applications.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in an electrical or mechanical curriculum is highly desirable, especially when combined with prior field service experience.
• Working knowledge of fluid delivery systems is a strong plus, particularly for applications in hatcheries and food processing environments.
• Previous field service experience supporting industrial equipment or automated systems.
• Experience working in industries such as poultry hatcheries, bakeries, food processing facilities, dairy manufacturing, or similar environments.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly and adapt to expanding markets and applications.
• Comfort working both independently in the field and collaboratively with a broader engineering and service team.

Work Environment

This role supports customers primarily in the southeastern United States, with a focus on poultry hatcheries in the Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama areas and an expanding presence in industries such as bakeries, food processing facilities, dairy manufacturing, and potentially meat processing facilities. The company designs, builds, and installs spraying and application systems used in a wide variety of industrial environments. The organization has been operating for nearly 80 years and emphasizes slow, steady, and controlled growth, which contributes to long-term stability and low attrition. Field Service Engineers receive a structured onboarding experience, including a paid week of training in the Chicago or Indianapolis area, followed by a period of shadowing experienced Field Service Engineers to learn the business, equipment, and territory thoroughly. The work involves regular travel within the region to customer sites, where you will work hands-on with mechanical, electrical, and control systems in production and processing facilities. The culture values continuous learning, teamwork, and long-term relationships with both employees and customers, providing an environment where individuals can develop their technical skills and grow their careers over time.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Birmingham, AL.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $42.00/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 fully onsite position in Birmingham,AL.

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

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 any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.