Controls & Automation Engineer

Controls & Automation Engineer

Our client, consumer packaged goods industry, is seeking a Controls & Automation Engineer to join their team. The ideal candidate will have strong PLC and automation expertise, leadership experience, and a proven track record in high-speed manufacturing environments.

Job Title: Controls & Automation Engineer

Location: Jonesboro AR

Contract: 6 Months (extension possible)

Pay Range: $42 - $48 hourly

What's the Job?

• Lead the site's automation, controls, and digital systems strategy to improve manufacturing performance, reliability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Drive automation reliability and loss elimination by analyzing downtime and performance data, leading root cause investigations, and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Own and maintain plant control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, vision systems, instrumentation, and industrial network infrastructure.
• Lead, coach, and develop controls technicians and automation resources while establishing technical standards, training programs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support capital projects and factory modernization efforts, including controls design, FAT/SAT testing, commissioning, startup support, and automation upgrades.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, IT, and Digital teams to strengthen OT/IT systems, enhance manufacturing data capabilities, improve cybersecurity, and ensure reliable production technology infrastructure.

What's Needed?

• Bachelor's degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive controls and automation experience in FMCG, CPG, or high-speed manufacturing environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing controls technicians, automation resources, contractors, and technical teams.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting expertise, including Ladder Logic, Function Block, Structured Text, and Sequential Function Charts (SFC).
• Extensive hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell platforms, including ControlLogix, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk, HMIs, drives, motion control, and safety systems.
• Experience supporting motor controls, instrumentation, robotics, machine vision systems, packaging equipment, and process automation.
• Strong knowledge of industrial networking and controls infrastructure, including Ethernet/IP, AS-i, DeviceNet, managed switches, PLC/HMI communications, and virtualized environments.

What's in it for me?

• Medical and Prescription Drug Plans/Dental Plan/Vision Plan
• Health Savings Account/Health Flexible Spending Account/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Supplemental Life Insurance/Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance/Business Travel Insurance
• 401(k), Plus Match
• Weekly Pay