Controls Manufacturing Engineer @ Actalent

Job Title: Controls Manufacturing EngineerJob DescriptionThe Controls Manufacturing Engineer will serve as the primary technical expert for industrial controls and automation in a complex manufacturing environment that relies heavily on older and custom-built production equipment. This newly created role brings controls-related troubleshooting, upgrades, and automation work in-house, shifting responsibilities from maintenance teams and external integrators to an internal subject matter expert. The position focuses on PLCs, drives, sensors, controls systems, equipment troubleshooting, and modernization, with an emphasis on a controls engineering background complemented by a strong understanding of manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the internal subject matter expert for industrial controls and automation across the manufacturing facility.
• Troubleshoot controls-related issues on production equipment, including PLCs, drives, sensors, and related control systems.
• Go online with PLCs to diagnose problems, review existing programs, and identify logic or configuration issues affecting equipment performance.
• Modify existing PLC logic to improve reliability, support process changes, and resolve recurring equipment faults.
• Convert and update legacy controls systems to modern platforms, ensuring compatibility with existing equipment and processes.
• Design and write new PLC programs from scratch when required to support new equipment, process changes, or automation initiatives.
• Lead the technical root cause analysis when manufacturing equipment goes down due to controls-related issues and determine corrective actions.
• Provide clear technical guidance to maintenance personnel, such as identifying failed drives, specifying appropriate replacements, defining parameters, and outlining integration steps.
• Collaborate closely with maintenance and engineering teams to ensure timely resolution of equipment issues and minimize production downtime.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with external systems integrators and machine builders for controls-related projects and equipment modifications.
• Support modernization of legacy equipment by defining controls upgrade strategies and implementing integration of new hardware and software.
• Contribute manufacturing engineering insight to equipment design, modification, and commissioning activities where controls expertise is required.
• Work independently to identify opportunities for automation improvements and controls optimization within the production environment.
• Maintain and update controls documentation, including PLC programs, configuration settings, and equipment controls schematics, to support ongoing operations and future upgrades.

Essential Skills

• Strong industrial controls background with hands-on experience in a manufacturing or industrial equipment environment.
• Deep technical proficiency with PLCs, including going online, troubleshooting existing programs, modifying logic, and developing new programs from scratch.
• Experience with drives and variable frequency drives (VFDs), including configuration, parameter setup, and integration with control systems.
• Strong understanding of sensors and their application in industrial controls and automation.
• Solid knowledge of industrial controls systems and architectures used in production equipment.
• Proven ability to perform electrical and controls troubleshooting on manufacturing equipment.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with real industrial and manufacturing equipment, not limited to theoretical or lab-based controls work.
• Ability to lead technical diagnosis when equipment goes down due to controls issues and determine what failed and how to correct it.
• Capability to specify replacement controls components, define required parameters, and outline integration steps for maintenance teams.
• Self-sufficient technical skill set, with the ability to operate as the internal controls SME without extensive in-house training.
• Experience collaborating with maintenance and engineering teams to resolve equipment issues and support continuous operations.
• background working with external systems integrators or machine builders on PLC, drives, sensors, and automation projects.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Manufacturing engineering experience that complements a strong controls engineering background.
• Mechanical aptitude and understanding of how mechanical systems interact with controls and automation.
• Experience with tooling and fixtures, particularly as they relate to automated or semi-automated equipment.
• CAD experience for reviewing or contributing to equipment and fixture designs.
• Exposure to equipment design and modification, including integration of controls into new or existing machinery.
• Automation project experience, such as leading or supporting implementation of new automated systems or upgrades.
• Machine commissioning experience, including startup, debugging, and optimization of controls on new or modified equipment.
• Familiarity with multiple PLC platforms and the ability to work across different vendor ecosystems.
• Experience modernizing legacy equipment controls to improve reliability, performance, and maintainability.
• Controls integration experience, including coordinating communication between various devices and systems.

Work EnvironmentThe role is based in an industrial manufacturing environment with a significant amount of older and custom-built production equipment. The Controls Manufacturing Engineer will work on and around real production machinery, focusing on keeping equipment running reliably and modernizing controls systems over time. The environment involves close collaboration with maintenance and engineering teams, as well as interaction with external systems integrators and machine builders for specialized projects. Work will regularly involve PLCs, drives, sensors, and other industrial controls hardware and software. The position requires comfort in a hands-on, shop-floor setting where equipment downtime has immediate operational impact, and where the engineer is expected to operate independently as the primary internal controls expert.

Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of King Of Prussia, PA.

Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $55.00 - $60.00/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)

Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 10, 2026.

Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in King Of Prussia,PA.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.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.