Control Engineer

Controls & Fluid Power Engineer Location: St Charles, IL Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site About the Opportunity We are partnering with an established industrial equipment manufacturer seeking a Controls & Fluid Power Engineer to help advance the design and automation of custom-engineered equipment. This is an opportunity for an experienced engineer to take ownership of control systems, combining electrical controls, automation, and fluid power technologies to develop increasingly sophisticated equipment. The ideal candidate is someone who understands how electrical and mechanical components work together and enjoys solving complex engineering challenges. Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and service teams, you will help bring custom equipment designs to life while expanding the organization’s technical capabilities. Key Responsibilities Design and integrate complete electrical control systems for custom industrial equipment, including PLCs, VFDs, motors, sensors, control panels, and safety devices. Develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, cable routing plans, and bills of materials. Select electrical and controls components based on equipment requirements, functionality, and customer specifications. Support PLC configuration and programming, including the opportunity to develop or modify programs for more advanced automation applications. Design and support hydraulic and fluid power systems, including the selection of pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, hoses, and related components. Collaborate with manufacturing and shop-floor teams to support the assembly, integration, and testing of control panels and hydraulic power units. Troubleshoot complex electrical, controls, and system integration issues in partnership with technicians and service personnel. Work with suppliers and internal teams to resolve technical challenges and support specialized customer requirements. Prepare bills of materials and manufacturing documentation within an ERP system. Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, establish effective engineering processes, and share technical knowledge with team members. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. 5+ years of experience in controls engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related field involving industrial equipment or automation. Strong understanding of how PLCs, variable frequency drives (VFDs), sensors, motors, control panels, and safety devices work together within a complete system. Experience developing electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and component specifications. Demonstrated ability to design, integrate, commission, or troubleshoot complete equipment control systems. Hands-on problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, manufacturing, and technical teams. Ability to evaluate complex equipment requirements and develop practical, reliable engineering solutions. Why Consider This Opportunity? Take ownership of complete control systems rather than focusing on individual components. Help develop more advanced automation capabilities and influence future equipment designs. Work on varied, custom-engineered applications that require creative problem-solving and systems-level thinking. Collaborate directly with engineering and manufacturing teams to see designs through implementation. Become a key technical resource with the opportunity to shape processes, solve challenging problems, and make a measurable impact. If you enjoy connecting electrical controls, automation, and mechanical systems to solve real-world engineering challenges, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.