Controls Engineer

Quanex is looking for a Controls Engineer to join our team located in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, troubleshooting, and continuously improving industrial control systems and automated manufacturing equipment. This position provides technical leadership for PLCs, HMIs, robotics, motion-control systems, industrial networks, and related electrical and automation technologies.

The Controls Engineer partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, IT, EHS, and equipment suppliers to improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, product quality, and workplace safety. The successful candidate combines strong technical expertise with a hands-on approach to diagnosing equipment issues and implementing sustainable solutions

Salary: $115,000 - $125,000 annually, starting salary varies based on your experience

Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am -5:00pm, hours may vary based on business needs

We Offer You!

• Medical, dental & vision start the 1st of the month after hire


• Medical coverage featuring wellness incentives that may significantly reduce employee premiums


• PTO, ESST, paid holidays & paid training — starts right away


• 401(k) with company match & vesting


• Employee Stock Purchase Plan


• Life insurance provided


• Tuition assistance


• Wellness resources & onsite physical therapist


• Referral bonuses

What’s attractive about the Controls Engineer role?  

• Collaborative and Team-Oriented environment


• World Class Safety records


• Clean and well-lit work environment.


• On-site, hands-on physical therapy

What Success Looks Like:

• Design, program, configure, test, and maintain PLC-based control systems and related automation equipment.


• Develop and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, servo, and motion-control programs.


• Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, improve cycle time, increase throughput, and improve overall equipment effectiveness.


• Provide hands-on technical support to Maintenance and Operations during equipment failures and production disruptions.


• Serve as an escalation resource for difficult or recurring controls and electrical problems.


• Design, modify, and maintain control systems in accordance with applicable electrical, machine-safety, and company standards.


• Maintain accurate electrical drawings, network diagrams, program documentation, equipment manuals, and change records.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field; an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.


• Minimum of five years of hands-on controls engineering or industrial automation experience in a manufacturing environment.


• Working knowledge of electrical controls, instrumentation, sensors, variable-frequency drives, servo systems, industrial networks, and machine-safety systems.


• Ability to read, develop, and update electrical schematics, control-panel drawings, and technical documentation.


• Demonstrated ability to lead root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.

About Quanex, A Part of Something Bigger

Quanex (NYSE: NX) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets. We are A Part of Something Bigger by improving the performance and aesthetics of end products through continuous innovation, helping customers achieve greater production efficiencies, dedication to giving back to communities where we operate, producing shareholder value and helping our employees learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at Quanex.com.

NOTE: For individuals with nut allergies, please be advised that there is the potential to be exposed to nut products when working in our facilities.