Controls Engineer

Overview

Join Our Team at voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak! Embark on a rewarding career with North America’s premier designer and manufacturer of special trackwork. Our 160-year legacy drives quality products and services, including rails, turnouts, fastening systems, signaling technologies, and monitoring solutions. We operate across Canada, the US, and Mexico, prioritizing the well-being of our people, global mobility, sustainability, and innovation.

Our people are the foundation of our success. We value Respect, Responsibility, Curiosity, Courage, Passion, and Diversity, and we emphasize safety, quality, and growth through strong relationships within the Nortrak Team and with our customers.

We are currently looking for a Controls Engineer to join our team in Chicago Heights, Illinois
.

The Controls Engineer’s primary focus will be to support, maintain, and improve industrial automation systems within our manufacturing operations. This role ensures equipment reliability, optimizes production performance, and supports new and existing automation technologies across the facility.

• Safety:
  Comply with and enforce all Nortrak safety policies and regulations.

• Quality:
  Design, program, troubleshoot, and support PLC-based control systems; develop, modify, and maintain HMI and control system interfaces; diagnose and resolve electrical, automation, and control-related issues; support commissioning, startup, and optimization of manufacturing equipment; ensure control systems comply with safety, environmental, and quality standards; create and maintain technical documentation, schematics, and control narratives.

• On-Time Delivery:
  Collaborate with maintenance, production, and engineering teams to reduce downtime.

• Cost:
  Support continuous improvement initiatives and automation upgrades.

• People:
  Work with production and maintenance personnel, vendors, and other Nortrak plant personnel in a team-oriented environment.

• Environmental:
  Adhere to Nortrak’s Environmental Procedures, Practices and Policies.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in a manufacturing-related engineering field or equivalent experience.

Required Experience

• 3+ years in an industrial manufacturing or automation environment.
• Experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens preferred).
• Knowledge of industrial networks, sensors, drives, and control devices.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Occasional off-shift or on-call support may be required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with HMIs, SCADA systems, and industrial communication protocols.
• Knowledge of VFDs, motion control, and machine safety systems.
• Experience supporting heavy industrial or manufacturing equipment.
• Exposure to commissioning and capital project support.

• Work is primarily in a manufacturing environment.
• Prolonged desk work with computer usage; occasional standing and walking for shifts.
• Must be able to move throughout the building to access files.
• Lift and move equipment or objects up to 20–25 pounds occasionally.
• Vision requirements: close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Occasional travel; site inspections to address safety concerns.
• Frequent use of hands for dialing phones and using a computer mouse.

Working

Location:

Chicago Heights, Illinois

Salary: $80,000–$100,000 per year

• Competitive medical, dental & vision benefits
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Retirement plan with matching contributions
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• A supportive, family-oriented Nortrak culture with a strong emphasis on Health and Safety

Equal Opportunity statement: voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other protected classifications.