Controls Engineer

Overview

Location: Greater Chicagoland Area (Hybrid) |
Travel: ~20% |
Schedule: Flexible |
Compensation: $80K–$120K + Annual Bonus

Status: Full-Time, Direct Hire

A rapidly growing engineering and automation firm is seeking three Controls Engineers to join its expanding team. This organization has been a trusted automation partner for nearly three decades, serving customers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and general industrial sectors
. With a sharp increase in project volume over the last year, the company is scaling its engineering group and looking for talented professionals eager to make an impact.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a stable, family-oriented company known for its autonomy, flexibility, and strong commitment to employee well-being. The company operates in a low-bureaucracy, high-ownership environment where engineers are given the room to innovate, lead projects, and grow their skill sets.

• True work-life balance with flexible schedules and a management team that genuinely supports personal and professional well-being.
• High autonomy
  —engineers are empowered to make technical decisions and lead their own projects.
• Diverse, engaging work across multiple industries with hands-on involvement in programming, commissioning, and customer-facing problem solving.
• Career growth with structured training, professional development opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge automation tools.
• Exceptional benefits
  , including:
• Zero-cost employee medical premiums
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match (fully vested in 5 years)
• Minimum of 1 week of external training annually
• Company credit card for travel
• Mileage reimbursement or rental car for site visits

• Develop full lifecycle automation solutions—from reviewing customer requirements through programming, testing, and onsite commissioning.
• Program, troubleshoot, and implement controls logic for new and existing systems.
• Travel to customer locations for commissioning, start-up support, and acceptance testing (typically short trips, with occasional multi-day or week-long visits).
• Work both independently and collaboratively with project managers, engineering teams, and customers.
• Interpret electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, and control panel layouts to support project execution.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule (once every ~2.5–3 months) with light call volume.

This organization is a great fit for someone who enjoys variety, autonomy, and solving real-world problems
. Ideal candidates are:

• Comfortable working independently and managing their own workload.
• Strong communicators who can support customers and de-escalate high-stress situations.
• Curious, hands-on engineers who enjoy learning new platforms, tools, and industries.
• Self-directed professionals who can work effectively from home and in the field.

Required Experience (4–8+ years):

• Reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts.
• Strong understanding of AC/DC circuits, instrumentation loops, and industrial controls hardware.
• Experience with PLC programming using tools such as:
• Studio
  5000, RSLogix 500
• Factory Talk Suite
• GE controls
• Hands-on instrumentation experience (flow meters, VFDs, scales, discrete & analog devices).
• Ability to troubleshoot controls and automation systems.

• Degree in Electrical Engineering (or related); military or hands-on pathways also welcome.
• Experience with automation system architecture, data mapping, and integration concepts.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hybrid flexibility with the expectation of being onsite periodically (typically once per week for the Chicagoland role)
• Travel up to 20%, usually 1–2 day trips; occasional longer commissioning trips (with weekends at home).
• Training for the first week is conducted onsite at the corporate HQ.
• Salary: $80,000–$120,000 depending on experience
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus
• Overtime: Paid straight time; can bank up to 40 hours toward PTO
• Full benefits package with no cost for employee medical coverage
• 401(k) match, holidays, mental health days, and extensive paid training

If you’re a Controls Engineer looking for flexibility, autonomy, variety, and long-term stability
, this is a standout opportunity.