Electrical Controls Engineer (PLC Programming & Industrial Automation)

Electrical Controls Engineer | Industrial Automation & Project Engineering

Location

Champaign, IL | Onsite

Job Type

Full-Time

Travel

Primarily Local | Minimal Overnight

Pay Range

$80,000-$110,000

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Industrial Technology Group (ITG), a division of Henneman Engineering, provides comprehensive engineering solutions and consulting services for industrial clients across manufacturing, food and beverage, chemical processing, wastewater treatment, power generation, renewable fuels, and other process-driven environments. The ITG team supports clients through project management, process design, mechanical, electrical, chemical, controls, instrumentation, integration, and reliability engineering services.

POSITION OVERVIEW

ITG is seeking an Electrical Controls Engineer to join its Champaign, Illinois office. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys a mix of controls design, PLC/HMI programming, AutoCAD Electrical work, instrumentation design, technical troubleshooting, commissioning support, proposal development, and project ownership.

This is not a single-facility maintenance role. Engineers support a variety of client environments, work with both legacy and modern control systems, and help move projects from concept through startup. The role is onsite in Champaign with primarily local client travel and minimal overnight travel.

WHY THIS ROLE STANDS OUT

· Work on varied industrial automation projects instead of being tied to one production line or one plant.

· Own meaningful project work from design and programming through troubleshooting, startup, and client support.

· Join a small controls team with access to a larger multidisciplinary engineering firm.

· Collaborate with mechanical, structural, process, electrical, and instrumentation professionals.

· Support local and regional clients with limited overnight travel and a strong work-life balance.

· Work with a mix of established legacy systems and current automation platforms.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Design, program, troubleshoot, modify, and support industrial automation and control systems for client facilities.

· Develop PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, control panel, motor control, and process control solutions for industrial applications.

· Program, configure, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, and other automation platforms used in manufacturing and process environments.

· Prepare electrical schematics, control narratives, P&IDs, panel layouts, instrumentation documentation, and related design deliverables using AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical.

· Provide commissioning, startup, technical troubleshooting, and field support at client sites.

· Write proposals, define project scope, support cost estimates, track budgets, and manage billable project time.

· Coordinate with clients, vendors, subcontractors, agencies, and internal engineering teams throughout the project lifecycle.

· Evaluate existing systems, recommend process improvements, and develop practical engineering solutions that improve safety, reliability, automation, and performance.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

· 5+ years of experience in industrial controls, automation, electrical engineering, or a closely related environment.

· Hands-on experience with PLC programming, HMI development, SCADA systems, and control system troubleshooting.

· Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and/or Siemens automation platforms.

· Experience using AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical for industrial electrical or controls design.

· Ability to troubleshoot automation systems in live industrial, manufacturing, utility, or process environments.

· Strong communication skills with the ability to work directly with clients and internal engineering teams.

· Valid driver's license and ability to travel to client sites as needed, primarily local and regional travel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Professional Engineer (PE) license, Engineer Intern (EI/EIT) status, or ability to obtain professional licensure.

· Project management experience, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, billable hour tracking, and client communication.

· Proposal writing, estimating, and client-facing consulting experience.

· Experience with Studio 5000, RSLogix, FactoryTalk, TIA Portal, Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA, MES, industrial networking, servo systems, drives, and instrumentation.

· Experience in heavy manufacturing, food and beverage, chemical processing, wastewater treatment, energy, renewable fuels, or similar industrial environments.

· Industrial maintenance or hands-on electrical troubleshooting background is a plus when paired with engineering and programming capability.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

· Salary range: $80,000 to $110,000 annually, based on experience, licensure, technical expertise, and project management capability.

· Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

· Benefits package includes paid holidays, vacation, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and 401(k) program.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

This position is based onsite at the Champaign, Illinois office. Engineers may travel to client facilities for meetings, troubleshooting, commissioning, and project support. Travel is primarily local or regional, with minimal overnight travel expected.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

Henneman Engineering is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Henneman Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations may be available for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process and employment.