Automation Engineer
Actalent • Marion, Iowa, United States
Salary: $30.00 - $41.00/hr
Role & seniority: Automation Engineer (experienced), Contract to Hire
Stack/tools: PLCs, HMIs, industrial controls; I/O wiring, testing/troubleshooting; electrical design; process controls; CFD (nice-to-have)
Top 3 responsibilities
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Support data center projects through automation engineering
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Program and troubleshoot PLCs/ HMIs; conduct electrical testing and manage hardware/PLC I/O
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Wire/test/ troubleshoot inputs/outputs; collaborate on modernization and enterprise MES work
Must-have skills
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2+ years with PLCs, HMIs, and industrial controls
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Hands-on I/O wiring, testing, and troubleshooting
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Bachelor’s in engineering (or associate degree with relevant experience); proficiency in electrical testing, hardware, control systems, and programming
Nice-to-haves
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Process controls experience; CFD exposure
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Ability to travel as required; strong PLC troubleshooting and electrical design skills
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Location & work type: Fully onsite in Marion, IA; frequent travel to data centers; highly collaborative, client-facing environment; opportunity for growth into engineering/project leadership roles
Full Description
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support data center projects in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This role offers the chance to work with a leading provider of industrial automation and electrical engineering services.
Responsibilities
Support data center projects through automation engineering. Program and troubleshoot PLCs and HMIs. Handle process control and electrical design tasks. Conduct electrical testing and manage hardware and PLC I/O. Wire, test, and troubleshoot inputs and outputs. Collaborate with team members and participate in modernization projects and enterprise MES work.
Essential Skills
2+ years of experience with PLCs, HMIs, and industrial controls. Hands-on experience with I/O wiring, testing, and troubleshooting. Bachelor’s degree in engineering or an associate degree with relevant experience. Proficiency in electrical testing, hardware, control systems, and programming.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with process controls. Ability to travel as required. Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Strong skills in PLC troubleshooting and electrical control design.
Work Environment
This position is fully onsite in Marion, Iowa, with frequent travel to data centers. The work environment is highly collaborative and team-oriented, emphasizing strong client partnerships. Employees have the opportunity to grow into engineering, project leadership, or specialty roles, with mentorship from hands-on technical experts. The company culture supports stability and growth, maintaining a consistently busy schedule year-round while expanding geographically.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Marion, IA.
Pay And Benefits
The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $41.00/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 Marion,IA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Feb 6, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.