Controls Technician

Job Title: Controls Technician
Job Description
This Controls Technician role focuses on testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining electrical and control systems in an industrial environment. The position involves working with technical documentation, performing electrical and mechanical testing, supporting quality assurance activities, and collaborating closely with engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to ensure that products and assemblies meet established standards.
Responsibilities

• Read and interpret technical data, work instructions, bills of materials, and electrical and mechanical engineering drawings.
• Verify wiring, signal integrity, and control logic using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other diagnostic tools.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues in control systems, including sensors, relays, contactors, and communication interfaces.
• Maintain and support electrical power systems in an industrial setting, working with voltages ranging from approximately 12-240 V DC and 120-480 V AC.
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot variable frequency drives (VFDs) using local interfaces and communication software.
• Conduct electrical and mechanical testing procedures to ensure finished products and assemblies meet internal quality standards.
• Work with electrical circuits to verify continuity and motor loading, using testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, process meters, and current probes to confirm compatibility and communication between system components.
• Inspect repaired and overhauled equipment and components using approved quality standards and data to determine acceptance.
• Assist with audits, special projects, and research and development activities by interfacing with engineering to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and specifications and to support the creation of testing procedures.
• Monitor the use of equipment and track calibration requirements to ensure safe and accurate operation of test instruments and tools.
• Evaluate existing quality control processes and recommend improvements to enhance product quality and consistency.
• Train quality and manufacturing team members on quality control measures and testing practices to improve product excellence.
• Use test instrumentation and control components such as HMIs, thermocouples, RTDs, variable frequency drives, load cells, and relaying devices during testing and diagnostics.
• Continuously learn new technologies, tools, and methods relevant to engineering testing and diagnostics.
• Mentor team members by sharing knowledge, best practices, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Demonstrate strong self-motivation, commitment to continuous improvement, and effective communication across teams.
• Adapt quickly and work effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.
• Support troubleshooting of PLCs and control programs where applicable, contributing to improved system reliability and performance.

Essential Skills

• Ability to read and understand technical data, work instructions, bills of materials, and electrical and mechanical engineering drawings.
• Strong understanding of control systems, sensors, actuators, and motor controls.
• Hands-on experience verifying wiring, signal integrity, and control logic using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other diagnostic tools.
• Experience maintaining electrical power systems in an industrial environment with voltages ranging from approximately 12-240 V DC and 120-480 V AC.
• Knowledge of variable frequency drives (VFDs), including configuration and troubleshooting using local interfaces and communication software.
• Proficiency in conducting electrical and mechanical testing procedures to ensure products and assemblies meet quality standards.
• Experience working with electrical circuits, including continuity and motor loading, and using test devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, process meters, and current probes.
• Ability to inspect repaired and overhauled equipment and components using established quality standards and data.
• Strong attention to detail and accurate documentation skills for recording test results, inspections, and quality findings.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
• Self-driven and highly motivated, with a strong commitment to improvement and effective inter-team communication.
• Ability and willingness to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in electrical control testing or industrial automation, preferably 2+ years, is highly beneficial.
• Background in Electronics Technology or a related technical field is preferred.
• Proficiency with PLCs, HMIs, and industrial communication protocols is a strong plus.
• Experience using test instrumentation and control components such as HMIs, thermocouples, RTDs, VFDs, load cells, and relays.
• Familiarity with quality assurance practices, including evaluating quality control processes and recommending improvements.
• Experience training quality and manufacturing teams on quality control measures and testing procedures.
• Exposure to audits, special projects, and research and development activities in an engineering environment.
• Interest in continuous learning and mentoring peers in engineering testing, diagnostics, and quality practices.
• General experience with engineering testing, diagnostics, and troubleshooting in an industrial setting.

Work Environment

• The work environment centers on engineering testing and diagnostics of variable frequency drives and related control and power systems in an industrial setting. You will work with test equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, ohmmeters, voltmeters, process meters, current probes, and various control components including PLCs, HMIs, thermocouples, RTDs, load cells, relays, and VFDs. The role involves hands-on work around electrical power systems ranging from low-voltage DC to higher-voltage AC, requiring careful adherence to safety and quality procedures. The environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with frequent collaboration among engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams and ongoing exposure to new technologies, testing methods, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Birmingham, AL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $35.00/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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Birmingham,AL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 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.