Title: Senior Controls Engineer – Allen-Bradley / Automation

Location: Travel to client locations across the East Coast
Duration: 6 Months
Rate: Open
Travel: Approximately 25% — typically 2–3 days per week when required
Experience: 7+ Years

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Controls Engineer to support automation and controls initiatives across multiple client sites. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, PLC programming, HMI/SCADA, electrical controls, material handling, packaging, and manufacturing automation.

This role will focus on improving existing control systems, reviewing and modifying PLC code, supporting automation projects, standardizing controls solutions, managing vendors, and identifying opportunities to improve system performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, program, troubleshoot, and modify PLC-based control systems, including programming PLCs from scratch.

• Work extensively with Allen-Bradley PLC systems and control platforms.

• Review existing PLC code and control-system configurations and recommend improvements.

• Support the design and implementation of electrical and controls systems for material handling, high-speed packaging, and manufacturing automation.

• Develop and implement HMI and SCADA solutions integrated with PLC-based systems.

• Identify opportunities to improve automation performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.

• Analyze operational data from multiple sites to identify root causes of rework and opportunities for controls standardization.

• Develop reusable control-system templates and standard engineering solutions.

• Work with internal engineering teams, project managers, operations teams, vendors, and system integrators to deliver automation projects.

• Review vendor controls designs, PLC programs, technical documentation, and deliverables against project specifications.

• Manage and coordinate outside vendors and ensure project requirements are met.

• Participate in electrical and controls design reviews and provide technical recommendations.

• Develop quality, performance, and commissioning test plans for vendor-provided automation systems.

• Support system implementation, testing, troubleshooting, commissioning, and optimization.

• Review system layouts and proposed technical solutions for compliance with project requirements and standards.

• Ensure control systems and related documentation comply with applicable electrical codes, standards, and organizational guidelines.

• Communicate project status, technical issues, risks, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.

• Work independently on complex technical projects while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Travel to client locations as required.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related STEM field.

• Strong hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs.

• Demonstrated ability to program PLCs from scratch.

• Experience modifying, troubleshooting, and optimizing existing PLC/control systems.

• Experience with HMI programming and PLC/HMI integration.

• Experience with electrical controls, electrical codes, and applicable engineering standards.

• Experience with material handling, packaging, manufacturing, or industrial automation systems.

• Experience managing automation projects from design through implementation/commissioning.

• Experience reviewing and managing controls vendors and system integrators.

• Ability to develop and execute system performance and quality test plans.

• Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Project, and Outlook.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to travel approximately 25%, including 2–3 days per week when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SCADA development and implementation.

• Experience with high-speed packaging lines and automated material handling systems.

• Experience developing standardized PLC/control-system templates.

• Experience analyzing operational data to identify process improvement opportunities.

• Experience with conveyor systems and integrated automation solutions.

• Experience with system commissioning and startup.

• Experience working with external engineering firms, OEMs, and system integrators.

• Strong vendor-management and technical design-review experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Senior Controls Engineer with strong Allen-Bradley PLC programming experience and a background in material handling, packaging, manufacturing, or industrial automation. The candidate should be capable of programming PLCs from scratch, reviewing vendor designs and code, developing HMI/SCADA solutions, troubleshooting complex control systems, and supporting projects through implementation and commissioning.

Candidates must be comfortable with significant travel to client sites across the East Coast.