Controls Engineer

Job Title: Senior Controls Engineer Job Description
The Senior Controls Engineer leads the design, development, and execution of industrial automation and control system projects from initial concept through commissioning. This role serves as a key technical leader and primary customer-facing resource, with a strong focus on industrial control panel engineering and UL 508A standards. The engineer takes full ownership of day-to-day project execution, technical decision-making, and customer communication, enabling engineering leadership to focus on strategic initiatives. This position is ideal for professionals who want end-to-end responsibility, enjoy hands-on technical problem-solving, and are passionate about control panel design and industrial automation.
Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of controls engineering projects, including scope development, quoting support, detailed design, documentation, fabrication support, testing, and commissioning.
• Design industrial control panels in accordance with UL 508A standards and industry best practices, ensuring safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Create comprehensive electrical schematics, panel layouts, bills of materials, and supporting project documentation using AutoCAD Electrical and related design tools.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers throughout project execution, translating customer requirements into engineered solutions and maintaining strong communication.
• Collaborate closely with project managers, fabrication teams, sales personnel, and customers to ensure successful project delivery on time and within scope.
• Conduct engineering reviews of designs, drawings, and project documentation to ensure quality, accuracy, and adherence to applicable standards.
• Support commissioning activities and troubleshooting efforts for installed systems, resolving controls and automation issues in the field as needed.
• Utilize document control systems to manage engineering files, design revisions, and project records in a structured and traceable manner.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians, promoting best practices, technical excellence, and consistent design standards across projects.
• Maintain clear and proactive communication with customers to understand requirements, provide regular updates, and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Support fabrication and panel shop environments by providing clear design intent, responding to technical questions, and ensuring manufacturability of control panels.
• Apply expertise in PLC, HMI, and VFD programming (particularly Allen-Bradley platforms) when needed to support integrated automation solutions.
• Present technical information and project status to customers and internal stakeholders in a confident, clear, and professional manner.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing detailed technical work with customer expectations and project schedules.
• Act as a recognized technical leader for complex controls projects, owning design execution, customer communication, and project delivery with minimal oversight.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 8+ years of controls engineering experience in industrial automation, system integration, or control panel design.
• Strong expertise in industrial control panel design and electrical systems, with solid familiarity and practical experience with UL 508A standards.
• Demonstrated experience designing and documenting UL 508A-compliant control panels from concept through fabrication.
• Proven ability to independently manage projects and drive them to successful completion while coordinating with cross-functional teams.
• Experience interacting directly with customers and translating their requirements into robust engineered solutions.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical or similar electrical design software for schematics, panel layouts, and documentation.
• Strong skills in creating electrical schematics, panel layouts, and bills of materials for industrial control systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to customers and stakeholders.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to customer sites as needed (up to approximately 20% travel).
• Ability to handle end-to-end panel design and customer interactions, maintaining ownership and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Controls engineering and controls design experience with automation systems and programmable logic controllers.
• Ability to troubleshoot PLC-based control systems and support commissioning and field issue resolution.
• Highly organized approach with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and schedule.
• Strong ownership mentality and ability to work with minimal supervision in a remote environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience programming PLCs, particularly Allen-Bradley platforms, including development, modification, and troubleshooting of PLC programs.
• HMI programming experience, including configuration of operator interfaces and visualization tools (e.g., FactoryTalk or similar platforms).
• Experience working with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and integrating them into control panel designs and automation systems.
• Familiarity with hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems and their integration into automated machinery and controls.
• Experience supporting fabrication and panel shop environments, including practical understanding of manufacturing processes for control panels.
• Knowledge of UL 698A standards and their application to specialized control systems.
• Experience with Inventor, Vault, or similar engineering design and document management tools.
• Previous experience mentoring engineers and leading technical project teams, fostering collaboration and technical growth.
• Robotics and automation experience, including integration of robotic systems into industrial control architectures.
• Experience with FactoryTalk or similar industrial software platforms used in automation and visualization.
• Customer-focused mindset with excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative, solution-oriented approach.
• Comfort presenting technical information to customers and stakeholders in both formal and informal settings.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex technical challenges while maintaining project schedules and customer expectations.
• Desire to grow into a recognized technical leader, with passion for control panel design and industrial automation.
• Preference for a hands-on environment where you can influence projects from start to finish and maintain strong customer interaction.

Work Environment
This is a fully remote role based in any West Coast state or nearby states such as Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, or Montana. The position requires living within a reasonable distance of a major airport to support occasional travel to production facilities, with travel expected to be less than 20%. You work primarily from home, collaborating virtually with engineering leadership, project managers, fabrication teams, sales personnel, and customers. The environment emphasizes ownership, autonomy, and direct customer interaction, giving you the ability to influence projects from initial concept through commissioning. You will regularly use tools such as AutoCAD Electrical, PLC and HMI programming platforms (including Allen-Bradley and FactoryTalk), document control systems, and potentially Inventor and Vault for design and data management. The culture supports engineers who are highly organized, customer-focused, and solution-oriented, and who want to grow into recognized technical leaders while contributing to high-quality, innovative automation solutions.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hillsboro, OR.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $64.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
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 remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 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.


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