Controls Engineer

Controls Engineer (PLC/Automation) - Contract | Tonawanda, NY (Onsite) Location: Onsite in Tonawanda, NY Schedule: 1st, 2nd, 3rd options Type: W2 Contract (52 weeks) (Full-Time conversion considered after 6 months) Overtime: ~10+ hrs/week (50 hrs/week typical) Travel: Up to 20% (occasional support trips to Michigan) Pay: $51-$57.27 / hour ~Visa sponsorship not available~ About the Role We are hiring Controls Engineers to support a high-volume manufacturing plant producing engines for major vehicle platforms, including Corvette. This is a hands-on, fast-paced role focused on maintaining and improving automation systems to support production. This role offers strong long-term potential , including possible conversion to a full-time employee after ~6 months . Schedule & Work Environment Shift options: 1st: 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM 2nd: 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM 3rd: 11:00 PM - 7:30 AM Assigned to one shift (not rotating, but MUST be available to work any shift in case someone is unavailable) 2-3 weekend shifts per month (including holidays) Onsite, 5 days/week (no remote) Fast-paced manufacturing floor environment What You'll Do Support production by troubleshooting and maintaining automation systems Diagnose and resolve issues with PLCs, robotics, and control systems Read and troubleshoot electrical schematics and machine control circuits Participate in shift hand-off meetings and track priority issues Collaborate with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams Support continuous improvement and automation projects Top Required Skills Experience working on the manufacturing floor, on your feet most of the day Machine controls experience (Robotics, test systems, PLC, instrumentation, vision systems) Preferred Experience Automotive or high-volume manufacturing Robotics (Fanuc preferred) Industrial networks (EtherNet/IP) Servo drives, motion control, VFDs Vision systems (Matrox, Cognex, Dalsa) HMI systems, automation controls Qualifications 2-3 years relevant experience (flexible for strong candidates) High School diploma + hands-on experience OR Technical degree (Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation, Engineering Tech) with co-op/internship experience #LI-LS1