Associate Controls Engineer Jobs in Winters, CA (NOW HIRING)

Kickstart your controls engineering career with a hands-on automation role where you'll work alongside experienced engineers, support real manufacturing operations, and build expertise with industry-leading PLC, SCADA, and control systems.
Controls Engineer | Hybrid Opportunity
Location
Arbuckle, CA
Hybrid Schedule: 3 days onsite / 2 days remote after training and ramp-up period
Job Description
We're seeking a motivated Controls Engineer to join a collaborative automation team supporting manufacturing operations across multiple facilities. This is a growth-focused opportunity for an engineer with 2-5 years of industrial automation experience who enjoys troubleshooting, continuous improvement, and working directly with production systems.
In this role, you'll partner closely with senior engineering staff to support automation projects from design through commissioning, while also helping maintain and optimize critical plant control systems. You'll gain exposure to the full project lifecycle, modern industrial technologies, and highly visible initiatives that directly impact production efficiency, quality, and uptime.
Why Join Us

• Contract-to-hire opportunity with long-term career potential.
• Work alongside experienced controls and automation professionals.
• Gain hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, and industrial networks.
• Contribute to projects that have a direct impact on manufacturing performance.
• Develop in-demand automation and controls engineering skills.
• Join a team that values mentorship, learning, and professional growth.

Career Growth
This role is designed for engineers looking to deepen their technical expertise within an industrial manufacturing environment. You'll gain experience supporting real-world automation projects, troubleshooting complex systems, commissioning new equipment, and implementing process improvements while learning directly from supervising controls professionals.
Compensation

• Pay Rate: $43.27 - $45.67 per hour
• Contract-to-Hire Opportunity
• Duration: 12 Months

What You'll Accomplish
Automation Projects & Plant Support

• Support the design, build, testing, and commissioning of industrial control systems.
• Assist with automation initiatives across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Partner with operations and maintenance teams to resolve production issues.
• Support implementation of new control and instrumentation technologies.

SCADA & Data Systems

• Develop and maintain Ignition Vision and Perspective applications.
• Create and troubleshoot screens, templates, reports, transaction groups, and user interfaces.
• Configure and maintain alarming systems, event notifications, and historical data collection.
• Manage user security roles and permissions within SCADA systems.
• Integrate new equipment and instrumentation into existing SCADA environments.
• Support production reporting, historian systems, SQL-backed data collection, and data management initiatives.
• Participate in SCADA standardization efforts including tag structures, naming conventions, templates, and unified namespace development.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Diagnose and resolve PLC, SCADA, instrumentation, and control system issues.
• Support wiring modifications and electrical troubleshooting activities.
• Utilize structured root-cause analysis techniques to identify and resolve equipment faults.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, and PLC logic.
• Troubleshoot field devices, electrical panels, motor control centers, and production equipment.

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with engineering, quality, maintenance, and operations teams to improve plant performance.
• Analyze production data and implement controls improvements that enhance yield, efficiency, quality, and uptime.
• Tune PID loops, sequencing controls, and equipment interlocks.
• Support migration of legacy control systems to newer Rockwell platforms.
• Configure and calibrate instrumentation including flowmeters, level transmitters, pressure transmitters, temperature devices, and scales.
• Create and maintain SOP documentation.
• Support training efforts for maintenance and operations personnel.

What We're Looking For
We're seeking a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving technical problems, working directly with equipment, and taking ownership of projects. The ideal candidate is comfortable working independently, has strong troubleshooting skills, and is eager to continue growing within industrial automation and manufacturing controls.
Required Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 2-5 years of hands-on experience in industrial automation and controls engineering.
• Experience with Rockwell automation platforms including:
  • Studio 5000
  • RSLogix 500
  • FactoryTalk View ME
  • PlantPAx Process Library Version 4 or higher
• Experience with Ignition SCADA Vision and Perspective.
• Knowledge of SQL Server, SSMS, T-SQL, and Jython scripting.
• Ability to read and interpret industrial electrical drawings and control panel schematics.
• Familiarity with industrial communication networks including:
  • EtherNet/IP
  • Modbus TCP/RTU
  • IO-Link
• Experience configuring and calibrating industrial instrumentation.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience deploying an Ignition Gateway from the ground up in a production environment.
• Experience with installation, device connections, OPC configuration, database integration, historian setup, alarming, and screen development.
• Manufacturing experience within food and beverage, grain handling, agricultural processing, or system integration environments.
• Experience with Siemens TIA Portal.
• Experience using AutoCAD LT or AutoCAD Electrical for control panel drawings.
• Experience with IFM Moneo or similar IO-Link software platforms.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work schedule available following onboarding and training.
• Primary work location is the Arbuckle, CA facility.
• Manufacturing environment supporting operations that run 24/7.
• Combination of project work, troubleshooting, commissioning activities, and plant support responsibilities.
• Frequent collaboration with engineering, operations, maintenance, and quality teams.

If you're looking for an opportunity to expand your controls engineering expertise, work on impactful automation projects, and gain real-world experience with industry-leading technologies, we'd love to connect with you.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Arbuckle, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $45.67/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
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 hybrid position in Arbuckle,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 2026.
About Aston Carter
Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.
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 process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.