Senior Controls Engineer

Job Title: Senior Controls Engineer
Job Description
The Senior Controls Engineer designs, develops, and deploys automated equipment across manufacturing and production environments. This role serves as a technical leader throughout the full project lifecycle, partnering with cross-functional teams and external suppliers to deliver compliant, reliable, and high-quality automation solutions. The engineer takes ownership from concept through commissioning, ensuring robust industrial control systems that support material handling, liquid filling, capping, labeling, and palletizing operations.
Responsibilities

• Lead and support automation projects from concept through commissioning, including planning, design, programming, purchasing, integration, testing, and training.
• Collaborate with internal manufacturing teams and external suppliers or integrators to develop user requirements specifications (URS), automation concepts, and high-level system architectures.
• Support automated equipment used for material handling, liquid filling, capping, labeling, and palletizing to ensure reliable and efficient operation.
• Design, program, and troubleshoot industrial control systems, including PLCs, robotics, HMIs, vision systems, motion control systems, and safety systems.
• Participate in design reviews with contractors, engineering consultants, and project stakeholders, providing technical input, guidance, and clear project status updates.
• Ensure supplier deliverables meet internal technical standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Drive best practices across all project phases, including procurement, supplier design reviews, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), equipment installation, and commissioning.
• Support equipment debugging, startup, and commissioning activities to achieve stable and validated production performance.
• Provide operator and maintenance training to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent use of automated equipment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance automation performance, reliability, and safety.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 2+ years of experience.
• Strong proficiency in PLC programming, including ladder logic and structured text.
• Hands-on experience with industrial automation components such as AC/DC drives, servo motors, HMIs, machine vision systems, and machine safety systems.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, debugging, commissioning, and validation activities in manufacturing or production environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering team environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience in controls engineering and automation, including PLC programming and system integration.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with complex mechanical systems and exposure to CAD modeling.
• Familiarity with Rockwell Automation PLCs and related platforms.
• Experience working with industrial robotics in automated manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of Cognex or similar machine vision systems.
• Experience with PLC and SCADA system integration.
• Basic understanding of industrial networking concepts, including TCP/IP and Ethernet/IP fieldbus architectures.
• Background in automation, controls engineering, and SCADA systems.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with suppliers, integrators, and internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to approximately 15% of the time to domestic manufacturing and supplier sites.

Work Environment
This role is fully on-site within a manufacturing and production environment focused on automated equipment and industrial control systems. The position involves regular interaction with automated machinery, including PLC-based systems, robotics, HMIs, motion control, and machine vision equipment. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, contractors, and external integrators, and participates in activities such as factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), equipment installation, debugging, and commissioning. Up to approximately 15% annual travel to domestic manufacturing and supplier sites is expected to support project execution and on-site integration. The work environment emphasizes safety, adherence to technical and regulatory standards, and a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hebron, KY.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $48.08/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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Hebron,KY.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 6, 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 click.appcast.io 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.