Job Information
Actalent Controls Engineer in Herndon, Virginia
Controls Engineer Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Design and implement control systems that automate and stabilize farm operations—especially climate, irrigation, and environmental monitoring.
Program and support PLC-based automation for critical equipment and infrastructure (startup, shutdown, interlocks, alarms, fault handling).
Build and maintain controls architecture: I/O lists, device mapping, control narratives, alarm philosophy, and sequences of operation.
Integrate field instrumentation and devices: temperature/humidity/CO₂ sensors, flow/pressure sensors, valves, pumps, VFDs, heaters/chillers, lighting controls, and related farm hardware.
Develop and refine HMI/SCADA-style monitoring to give operators clear visibility into system status, alarms, trends, and manual overrides (operator-first design).
Commission systems on-site: bring-up, loop checks, I/O verification, tuning, testing, validation, and handoff to operations.
Troubleshoot controls and electrical issues quickly—root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability improvements for 24/7 production environments.
Collaborate tightly with mechanical, electrical, robotics, and software teams to integrate automation into larger equipment and workflows (especially where robotics/large equipment interfaces come into play).
Document changes and standards: version control, test records, control drawings markups, and repeatable deployment practices.
Mentor and support technicians/junior engineers as the controls footprint scales (best practices, code standards, commissioning checklists).
Skills
Automation, Plc programming, Allen-bradley
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with robotics or large automated equipment and integrating controls with mechanical systems.
Experience building or maintaining SCADA/HMI screens, alarming, historian/trending, or remote monitoring.
Familiarity with common industrial networks
Exposure to control of environmental systems (HVAC, humidity control, water systems, nutrient dosing, filtration), or other regulated/continuous operations)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Herndon, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $125000.00 - $175000.00/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 Herndon,VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 17, 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.