McWane is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices.  McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. 

Physical Demands: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell.    The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, extreme heat or cold, wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Join Our Team

McWane Poles is seeking a highly motivated Controls Engineer to join our team. As a sister company of McWane Ductile, McWane Poles is a leading manufacturer of utility poles and structures serving the power transmission and distribution industry. We are committed to safety, innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

The Controls Engineer will play a critical role in maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving automated manufacturing systems while supporting plant operations and developing maintenance team capabilities.

Why Join McWane Poles?

• Opportunity to work with advanced manufacturing and automation technologies.
• Hands-on involvement in impactful plant improvement projects.
• Collaborative team environment focused on safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Career growth and professional development opportunities within the McWane family of companies.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a commitment to plant safety by adhering to all safety policies, safe work practices, and housekeeping standards.
• Train and develop plant electricians to improve their understanding of industrial controls and troubleshooting techniques.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and modify PLC and HMI programs to improve equipment reliability, process performance, and reduce downtime.
• Communicate corrective actions and repair details to operators, supervisors, managers, and maintenance personnel.
• Install, repair, upgrade, and maintain electrical and electronic equipment used throughout the manufacturing process.
• Collaborate effectively with team members, vendors, internal customers, and external support groups.
• Manage assigned projects and ensure completion within established timelines.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, safety, and reliability.
• Assist in the design and implementation of new control systems and automation technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3-5 years of industrial controls experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience using digital multimeters and electrical diagnostic equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic schematics.
• Advanced PLC and CNC troubleshooting skills with strong electrical and mechanical aptitude.
• Experience troubleshooting and modifying:
  • Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs
  • Siemens PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs
• Proficiency with:
  • Siemens STEP 7 SIMATIC Manager
  • Siemens TIA Portal
  • Siemens SINAMICS STARTER
  • Allen-Bradley RSLogix 5000
  • FactoryTalk View
• Working knowledge of industrial communication networks, including Ethernet and Profinet.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills with the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Hands-on approach to engineering and problem-solving.
• Understanding of environmental regulations and commitment to compliance with local, state, and federal requirements.
• Strong commitment to engineering ethics, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with controls and instrumentation, including:
  • Encoders
  • Sensors
  • Transducers
  • Pressure and flow instrumentation
• Experience with machine safety systems, including:
  • Area scanners
  • Light curtains
  • Safety relays
  • Pressure-sensitive mats
• Experience with AutoCAD, Vault, or similar design and document management software.
• Experience monitoring environmental emissions and compliance systems.
• System design experience, including the ability to develop, install, and troubleshoot current and future manufacturing processes.

Experience commissioning automation systems and supporting capital projects.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
McWane is a Federal VEVRAA contractor, and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status (In IL - sex, including same sex, ancestry, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge status, genetic information), (In IA - gender identity), (In CA- gender identity or expression, and genetic information) or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.