Automation & Controls Engineer

Caterpillar•East Peoria, IL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Automation & Controls Engineer focuses on industrial automation and controls, with the opportunity to develop deeper knowledge of heat-treat equipment, processes, and system operation. Training, mentoring, and hands-on development are provided, and both experienced professionals and early-career candidates are considered. Much of the work takes place on the manufacturing floor using machine logic, electrical drawings, diagnostic software, equipment data, and hands-on troubleshooting. The engineer troubleshoots and supports industrial automation and control systems; improves equipment reliability, performance, and uptime; supports and develops PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and related technologies; leads root-cause investigations; and implements permanent solutions. The role also supports equipment upgrades, capital projects, and continuous-improvement efforts, collaborating with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams. The work contributes directly to safety, quality, and production in a highly automated manufacturing environment. The position is onsite in East Peoria, Illinois (Building KK), five days a week, primarily in an active manufacturing environment with regular hands-on production-floor troubleshooting. The schedule is an Alternate Work Schedule night shift, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., on a repeating two-week rotation: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in week one; Wednesday and Thursday in week two. Assigned weekends and holidays are included. Overtime opportunities are available for additional shifts worked. The position may require less than 10% travel. Domestic relocation assistance is available; visa sponsorship is not available. The position closes at 11:59 p.m. on November 11, 2026. Any employment offer is conditioned on successful completion of a drug screen.

Requirements

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Technology, Automation Technology, Industrial Electronics Technology, or equivalent experience is desired.
Accuracy and attention to detail, including the ability to complete tasks precisely.
Effective communication skills, including accurately transmitting, receiving, and interpreting information and needs.
Knowledge of engineering processes, techniques, and methods in a manufacturing environment, or the ability to apply them to safely realize objectives.
Problem-solving knowledge and the ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve organizational, operational, or process problems in diverse situations.
Knowledge of technical troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques, and the ability to resolve issues involving hardware, software, applications, or operations.
Willingness to work in a manufacturing environment and support the rotating AWS night-shift schedule, including assigned weekends and holidays.
Ability to work onsite five days a week.
Ability to complete a drug screen successfully as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Technical education, training, or experience in engineering, automation, controls, electrical systems, robotics, industrial maintenance, or a related field.
Strong technical aptitude, curiosity, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to learn new technologies and troubleshoot complex equipment.
Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a variety of teams.
Strong technical depth in one or more industrial automation platforms and ability to troubleshoot and learn unfamiliar systems; experience with every system is not required.
Experience or familiarity with Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI platforms, FANUC robotics and automation systems, industrial networking and communications systems, vision systems and inspection technologies, variable frequency drives and motion control systems, or process control and instrumentation systems.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot and support industrial automation and control systems.
Improve equipment reliability, performance, and uptime.
Support, develop, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and related technologies.
Lead root-cause investigations and implement permanent solutions.
Support equipment upgrades, capital projects, and continuous-improvement efforts.
Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to solve technical challenges.
Develop expertise in industrial automation, controls, heat-treat equipment and processes, and manufacturing systems.
Build troubleshooting skills and technical knowledge through hands-on work alongside experienced professionals.
Contribute to projects affecting safety, quality, production, equipment performance, and continuous improvement.