Senior Controls & Automation Engineer — Lincoln, NE

Senior Controls & Automation Engineer

Location: Lincoln, NE – Fully Onsite

Employment Type: Contract

Contract Duration: Approximately 9 Months

Pay Rate: $65–$70/hour

Overview

KORE1, a nationwide provider of staffing and recruiting solutions, is seeking a Senior Controls & Automation Engineer for a long-term pharmaceutical manufacturing automation project in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This individual will serve as the primary onsite controls and automation resource, combining strong hands-on controls engineering with site coordination and technical leadership. The engineer will support the project from design and architecture through programming, testing, installation, commissioning, qualification, and startup while coordinating closely with equipment suppliers, contractors, customer stakeholders, and remote engineering specialists.

The project involves implementing a new Material Tracking System (MTS) that integrates powder/material-handling equipment, continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, PLC controls, Ignition SCADA, and SQL-based records. The system will provide material-flow authorization while capturing lot numbers, weights, timestamps, and other production information needed for end-to-end product genealogy and traceability.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone comfortable independently owning an assigned controls scope while also keeping multiple onsite project activities moving.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the primary onsite controls and automation resource throughout the project.

Conduct site surveys and help define controls architecture, installation requirements, equipment interfaces, operating sequences, permissives, interlocks, and control narratives.

Develop, modify, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC logic and equipment interfaces using Studio 5000.

Integrate material-handling and manufacturing equipment with the Material Tracking System and plant-level controls.

Coordinate technical activities with customer stakeholders, OEM equipment suppliers, installation contractors, and remote engineering specialists.

Support interface simulation, integrated testing, FAT, SAT, and system troubleshooting.

Verify installation readiness, device configuration, communications, I/O, and equipment interfaces during commissioning.

Support IQ/OQ/PQ, documented testing, deviation resolution, startup, and initial production activities.

Maintain controls documentation and resolve technical issues within the assigned project scope.

Support final commissioning, punch-list closure, training, and project handover.

Required Qualifications

Senior-level experience delivering industrial controls and automation projects through design, programming, testing, commissioning, and startup.

Strong hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Logix and Studio 5000, including ControlLogix and/or CompactLogix.

Experience with EtherNet/IP, Produced/Consumed messaging, PLC handshakes, permissives, interlocks, and sequence control.

Experience integrating OEM equipment with supervisory, plant-level, or material-tracking control systems.

Strong industrial networking, remote I/O, device configuration, communications, and troubleshooting experience.

Understanding of OPC UA and PLC/SCADA data exchange.

Ability to interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, network drawings, I/O lists, and functional specifications.

Experience preparing and executing FAT/SAT testing and documenting technical results and changes.

Strong communication and technical documentation skills with the ability to work independently onsite while collaborating with remote engineering resources.

Ability to work fully onsite in Lincoln, Nebraska for the duration of the assignment.

Preferred Qualifications

Pharmaceutical, life sciences, consumer healthcare, or other regulated manufacturing experience.

Experience with material tracking, genealogy, traceability, batch processing, or continuous manufacturing systems.

GMP documentation and computer system validation experience, including IQ/OQ/PQ support.

Experience with Ignition SCADA, SQL interfaces, electronic records, and audit trails.

Experience with powder/material-handling systems, feeder systems, material reconciliation, or continuous processing equipment.

Experience with DEC powder-handling equipment or Fette continuous manufacturing systems.

Knowledge of ISA-88 concepts and/or FactoryTalk Batch.

Previous experience serving as an onsite technical lead, site lead, or commissioning lead.

Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant hands-on experience will also be considered.

Project & Work Environment

This position requires full-time onsite presence in Lincoln, Nebraska. Local candidates from the Lincoln or Omaha areas are preferred, although qualified candidates from outside the area may also be considered.

The engineer will be supported by additional controls, SCADA, database, validation, electrical, and technical specialists, including remote engineering resources. This individual, however, will provide the critical onsite technical continuity needed to gather information, coordinate activities, resolve controls issues, and keep the project moving.

Electrical installation work will be performed by appropriately qualified contractors; this role is responsible for controls engineering, technical coordination, testing, and installation oversight, rather than performing electrical installation work.</