Controls Engineer

Entry-Level Controls Engineer

This entry-level Controls Engineer role offers an excellent opportunity for a recent engineering graduate or early-career engineer to build hands-on experience in industrial automation, control panel design, PLC programming, and electrical systems. You will work alongside experienced engineers to design, program, and support automation systems that power shredding and recycling equipment. The position combines office-based engineering work, shop floor collaboration, and occasional field support, giving you exposure to the full lifecycle of industrial automation projects from design through startup and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of electrical control systems for industrial shredding equipment.
• Create and update electrical schematics, control panel layouts, and wiring diagrams using AutoCAD Electrical or similar drafting tools.
• Support the development of bills of materials (BOMs), I/O lists, and complete electrical documentation packages.
• Review electrical drawings and assist in troubleshooting design issues to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Support PLC and HMI development using Allen-Bradley and similar automation platforms under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Assist with programming, testing, and debugging control systems, including basic ladder logic modifications and troubleshooting.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT) and system commissioning activities to validate system performance.
• Learn and support integration of drives, motors, sensors, instrumentation, and industrial communication networks into control systems.
• Work directly with the electrical panel shop to support control panel assembly, testing, and startup activities.
• Assist with troubleshooting electrical and control systems both in-house and at customer sites, using systematic problem-solving methods.
• Support equipment startup and commissioning efforts, ensuring systems operate safely and as designed.
• Travel occasionally to customer sites for installations, service support, and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and service teams to deliver successful projects on time and within scope.
• Participate in project meetings and provide technical support throughout project execution.
• Maintain organized project documentation, engineering records, and revision histories.
• Develop proficiency in creating electrical schematics and control panel designs within your first year.
• Contribute to PLC and HMI programming projects and support equipment testing and startup.
• Grow into a Controls Engineer capable of independently supporting projects from design through startup over time.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Chemical Engineering with controls experience, or a related engineering discipline.
• Basic understanding of PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, and industrial automation systems.
• Exposure to Allen-Bradley PLCs, preferably using Studio 5000, or similar automation platforms.
• Familiarity with HMI development tools such as Factory Talk View or comparable software.
• Experience with AutoCAD Electrical or other electrical drafting software for creating schematics and panel layouts.
• Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and control drawings.
• Understanding of control panels, I/O, relays, motor starters, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).
• Knowledge of sensors, instrumentation, motors, drives, and control systems and how they integrate into industrial equipment.
• Familiarity with industrial networking concepts such as Ethernet/IP and TCP/IP.
• Comfort working on equipment in manufacturing or heavy industrial environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to diagnose electrical and controls-related issues systematically.
• Ability to work directly with customers, technicians, and engineers in a professional manner.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for startup, service, and support work.
• Eagerness to learn and grow into a more independent Controls Engineer role with increasing responsibility.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Internship, co-op, academic projects, or professional experience involving controls, automation, instrumentation, or electrical systems.
• Exposure to industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment, recycling systems, or heavy industrial environments.
• Experience with VFDs, motor controls, sensors, and industrial instrumentation.
• Experience with Siemens PLCs or other major PLC platforms in addition to Allen-Bradley.
• Exposure to robotics, automation cells, or advanced control systems.
• EIT (Engineer-in-Training) certification is a plus but not required.
• Experience with PLC programming, PLC troubleshooting, and control system design.
• Familiarity with Rockwell Automation tools and Allen-Bradley PLC platforms.
• Experience with HMI programming and interface design for industrial systems.
• Demonstrated ability to design or support control systems for…