Job Title: Controls Engineer – Siemens TIA Portal
Location: Columbus, MS – Onsite
Position Type: Contract-to-Hire / Right to Hire
Contract Duration: 12 months

Job Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer for a long-term contract-to-hire opportunity in Columbus, MS. The ideal candidate must have strong hands-on experience with Siemens PLC programming and TIA Portal and be comfortable supporting industrial automation projects from development through onsite commissioning.

This is a long-term onsite opportunity, and candidates must be willing to work in the Columbus, MS area for the duration of the assignment. Strong English communication skills are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and commission industrial control systems, including PLC software and HMI screens.
• Develop PLC/HMI code from scratch, install code, troubleshoot/debug onsite, and commission complete systems.
• Perform machine PLC and peripheral device programming.
• Coordinate machine power-up, debugging, and validation with electrical and build teams.
• Ensure systems meet customer and project build specifications and programming standards.
• Troubleshoot controls and automation issues during integration and commissioning.
• Travel to customer sites as required for system installation, startup, and commissioning.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of Controls Engineering / PLC / HMI programming experience.
• 2+ years of Siemens PLC and HMI programming experience.
• Strong hands-on Siemens TIA Portal experience is mandatory.
• Ability to write PLC code/ladder logic from scratch.
• Experience with industrial automation integration and commissioning.
• Prior experience with automotive manufacturing integration and commissioning.
• Experience programming according to customer-defined standards and templates.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with additional PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Omron, Mitsubishi, or similar.
• Knowledge of industrial networks such as DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP, Profibus, and ProfiNet.
• Hardware design experience using AutoCAD, Promise-E, or ePlan is a plus.

Education

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered in place of a degree.