Controls Engineer in Rockford

Job DescriptionJob Description

Title: Controls Engineer
Location: Rockford, IL
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $110,000 to $130,000 based on experience
Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance, 401k, Paid Time Off

About the Role:
Seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to design, program, and commission custom automated equipment for a variety of industrial customers. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys taking projects from electrical design and programming through installation, startup, and customer acceptance. The ideal candidate has strong Allen Bradley/Rockwell controls experience, along with a solid understanding of servo motion, vision systems, electrical troubleshooting, and automated machinery.
What You'll Do:

• Design electrical and control systems for custom automation equipment.
• Develop and program Allen Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems using Rockwell Automation software.
• Create, modify, and maintain electrical schematics, control documentation, and system drawings.
• Troubleshoot electrical, controls, and automation issues during development and production.
• Commission automated equipment at customer facilities and support equipment startup.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and engineering teams to deliver complete automation solutions.
• Support and troubleshoot servo motion and machine vision systems.
• Mentor junior controls engineers and contribute to the development of engineering best practices.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to improve machine performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Travel to customer sites for installation, commissioning, and startup activities — up to 25%.

What We're Looking For:

• 5+ years of Controls Engineering experience, preferably within custom automation, machine building, or industrial manufacturing.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley PLCs and Rockwell Automation software.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, and servo motion systems.
• Experience with machine vision systems.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and develop electrical schematics.
• Comfortable working hands-on with automated equipment during startup and commissioning.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for customer commissioning and startup.

Why Join?

• Work on custom automation projects from concept through commissioning.
• Gain exposure to a variety of advanced automation technologies.
• Take ownership of challenging controls projects and see your work come to life.
• Opportunity to mentor others and grow into a technical leadership role.
• Collaborative engineering environment with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to , , , , , , , , , protected veteran status, or genetic information.