Controls Technician

Job Title:

Controls/Electrical Tech Job Description supports day-to-day manufacturing operations with a strong focus on electrical systems, controls and automation, and machine vision. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-focused engineering role responsible for improving equipment reliability, driving automation enhancements, and providing technical support for production systems. The position sits at an assistant management level and includes leadership of a team of maintenance technicians, combining technical depth with coaching and development responsibilities. Responsibilities Lead, coach, and support the development of a team of maintenance technicians to strengthen technical capability and overall equipment effectiveness. Troubleshoot and improve electrical systems on production equipment, including PLCs, HMIs, servos, VFDs, and other automation components. Support, maintain, and optimize machine vision systems used for in-line inspection and quality validation, including platforms such as Cognex, Keyence, Omron, or similar. Create, update, and maintain electrical schematics, control documentation, and technical records to ensure accurate and current engineering information. Identify and implement automation and controls improvement opportunities to increase equipment uptime, product quality, and production throughput. Collaborate daily with maintenance, engineering, and production teams on the plant floor to address issues, share insights, and align on priorities. Participate in the selection and standardization of PLC platforms and programs used across the facility, helping define long-term controls strategy. Apply continuous improvement, Lean, TPS, or TPM principles to drive efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance safety and reliability. Support injection molding equipment and auxiliaries, where applicable, by troubleshooting and improving their electrical and control systems. Provide on-call support as needed to respond to critical equipment issues, helping ensure continuity of production operations. Perform hands-on troubleshooting, testing, and verification of automation, robotics, and vision inspection platforms on the manufacturing floor. Conduct engineering analysis and documentation to capture changes, improvements, and lessons learned for future reference and standardization. Essential Skills Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent practical experience. 2-5 years of hands-on experience in controls engineering and industrial automation within a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience with machine vision systems such as Cognex, Keyence, Omron, or comparable platforms. Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting capability, including configuration, modification, and optimization of control logic. Proficiency with HMI programming and troubleshooting for operator interfaces and control panels. Experience with VFD and servo systems, including setup, tuning, and fault diagnosis. Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and control documentation to support design, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Solid electrical engineering fundamentals and strong electrical troubleshooting skills in an industrial setting. Experience working directly on the manufacturing floor in a hands-on capacity, supporting production equipment and automation systems. Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including maintenance, engineering, and production. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience supporting injection molding equipment or auxiliary systems. Exposure to Cartesian or industrial robotics such as Yushin, Wittmann, Star, or similar platforms. Working knowledge of applicable electrical and safety standards, including

NEC, NFPA

79, and OSHA guidelines. Experience using AutoCAD or electrical CAD tools for creating and modifying electrical drawings and layouts. Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, TPS, TPM, or other continuous improvement tools and methodologies. Prior experience mentoring, guiding, or leading technicians or technical staff. Interest in influencing and standardizing PLC platforms and control strategies across a manufacturing operation. Strong documentation skills for maintaining accurate records of changes, improvements, and system configurations. Ability to balance hands-on troubleshooting with engineering analysis and project work. Work Environment This role is primarily shop-floor-based and highly hands-on, with extensive interaction across engineering, maintenance, and production teams. During the first 90 days, the Electrical Engineer will spend most of the time on the floor identifying gaps within the current team and understanding existing systems and processes. After this initial period, the role will typically be a 70/30 split between floor work and desk-based engineering tasks. The schedule follows a Monday through Friday workweek from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The position involves a mix of real-time troubleshooting and longer-term engineering analysis and documentation. The engineer will work in a stable manufacturing environment with exposure to production equipment, advanced automation systems, robotics, and machine vision inspection platforms. The role requires regular standing, walking, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds on the manufacturing floor. There is a potential on-call component, with occasional call-ins to support critical production issues, which may increase as the operation grows. The environment offers a high-impact, visible position where engineers directly influence uptime, automation strategy, and quality outcomes, with strong opportunities for career growth, project leadership, and expansion of technical scope. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Lexington, KY. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $38.46 - $40.86/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Lexington,KY.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 25, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.