Job Title: Electrical Controls Engineer
Job Description
The Electrical Controls Engineer plays a key project-based role in supporting and advancing manufacturing operations through both planned initiatives and emerging needs. This position leads and manages capital projects and plant improvement initiatives from concept through execution, while supporting, maintaining, and troubleshooting control systems, including PLC programming and interface systems such as HMI/MMI and SCADA. The role focuses on improving production efficiency, yield, cost, and overall manufacturing uptime across existing facilities, and involves the design, development, and management of electrical systems and industrial equipment in a highly collaborative, floor-focused manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
Lead and manage capital projects and plant improvement initiatives from initial concept through detailed design, installation, commissioning, and final handover.
Support, maintain, and troubleshoot control systems, including PLCs, HMI/MMI, and SCADA systems, to ensure reliable and safe operation of manufacturing processes.
Design, develop, and manage electrical systems such as line logic, motor controls, switchgear, and related industrial equipment to support production and plant upgrades.
Drive improvements in production efficiency, yield, cost reduction, and overall manufacturing uptime across existing facilities by identifying and implementing technical solutions.
Develop clear design requirements, specifications, electrical drawings, and single-line diagrams for capital projects and plant improvements.
Provide hands-on technical guidance and training to plant personnel on the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of installed electrical and control systems.
Procure materials and services for electrical and control projects, including preparing requisitions, evaluating options, and coordinating with suppliers.
Coordinate installations and oversee maintenance activities related to electrical and control systems to ensure work is completed safely, on time, and within scope.
Prepare project cost estimates, budgets, and timelines, and manage projects to meet financial targets and schedule commitments.
Manage contractors and suppliers, including participating in contractor selection, reviewing and overseeing working drawings, ensuring safety compliance, and coordinating on-site activities.
Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and corporate capability teams to ensure successful project execution and alignment with plant priorities.
Support commissioning and start-up of new equipment and systems, verifying functionality, resolving issues, and documenting changes.
Interpret and work with wiring schematics and related documentation to support design, troubleshooting, and modifications.
Work independently in a predominantly project-based role while balancing ongoing troubleshooting and system support needs on the plant floor.
Apply project management principles to plan, execute, monitor, and close projects, ensuring effective communication with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Essential Skills
5+ years of experience in controls, electrical, or industrial engineering within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Systems, Industrial Engineering (or similar), or an Associate's degree with equivalent hands-on experience.
Strong PLC programming experience in an industrial setting, ideally with Allen-Bradley systems.
Experience working with HMI/MMI and SCADA interface systems in a production environment.
Hands-on troubleshooting experience supporting industrial equipment and control systems.
Experience managing and executing projects from concept through implementation in a manufacturing or industrial @context.
Ability to read, interpret, and work with wiring schematics and electrical documentation.
Comfort working independently in a predominantly project-based role with a strong emphasis on troubleshooting and system support.
Demonstrated automation engineering experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Strong project management capabilities to plan, organize, and deliver technical projects on time and within budget.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Basic power distribution experience for 600V-class systems (nice to have).
Experience with commissioning of industrial equipment and control systems.
Experience in automation and industrial controls within high-performance manufacturing environments.
Ability to build strong working relationships with operations, maintenance, and technical teams.
Interest in continuous learning, innovation, and adopting evolving technologies.
Motivation to grow into technical leadership or broader leadership roles over time.
Strong communication skills to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Demonstrated integrity, teamwork, and problem-solving mindset aligned with principle-based operations.
Work Environment
This role operates within a global manufacturing business that produces high-performance glass products used in architectural, residential, interior, transportation, and technical applications around the world. The position is heavily floor-focused, with significant time spent in the manufacturing environment working closely with operations, maintenance, and technical teams. The organization follows a principle-based approach, emphasizing teamwork, integrity, ingenuity, and being a trusted partner to internal stakeholders and external partners. The Electrical Controls Engineer reports into an engineering function that includes controls, reliability, and mechanical engineering support, along with an intern, creating a multidisciplinary team environment. The culture values continuous learning, problem-solving, and professional development rather than rigid job boundaries, and engineers are given real ownership and impact, with the ability to influence how work is done and how the plant continues to modernize. The role is predominantly project-based with minimal overtime compared to typical manufacturing positions, supporting a more predictable schedule and healthier work-life balance. The environment offers exposure to capital projects, plant improvements, and evolving technologies, backed by the stability of a large parent organization combined with the agility and autonomy of a site-level team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of DeWitt, IA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $135000.00/yr.
Our benefits plan includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in DeWitt,IA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 1, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
