Two Controls Engineers Needed in Waterloo: Advanced Tire Manufacturing Automation Project
Waterloo, Iowa has emerged as a significant hub for agricultural equipment manufacturing, and right now there’s exceptional opportunity for skilled automation professionals in the region. Two experienced controls engineers are needed immediately for a sophisticated tire manufacturing automation project that combines Allen Bradley PLC programming, FANUC robotics, and Keyence vision systems. That’s right—two positions available, which doubles the opportunity for qualified professionals.
This isn’t your typical short-term service call. Instead, this represents exactly the kind of substantial automation contract that builds careers and demonstrates real technical depth. With two positions available, this is an exceptional opportunity for the Waterloo area automation community.
Ready to apply? View the complete contract details and submit your application here.
Contract Overview and Key Details
A precision manufacturing facility in Waterloo has installed a state-of-the-art automated tire room for large farm equipment wheel assemblies. The system is commissioned and operational, but like any advanced automation installation, it needs expert hands to optimize cycle times, debug edge cases, and support production through the critical early production phase. The facility needs two controls engineers working together on this substantial project.
Project Scope and Responsibilities:
- PLC troubleshooting and debug work on Allen Bradley ControlLogix platforms
- Cycle time analysis and optimization to meet production targets
- Long-term production support as the line reaches full operational capacity
- FANUC robot programming and integration support
- Keyence LJX vision system configuration and troubleshooting
With two positions available, you’ll work alongside another skilled professional, which creates excellent opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and tackling complex challenges as a team.
Timeline and Schedule:
- Start date: November 3rd, 2025
- Initial duration through February 27th, 2026
- Strong potential for multi-month extension with additional plant projects
- Ten hours per day, five days per week (Monday through Friday)
- Choice of first shift (6:00 AM to 4:30 PM) or second shift (2:00 PM to 12:30 AM)
Compensation Structure:
- Base rate: $76.00 per hour
- Overtime rate: $76.00 per hour (all hours compensated equally)
- Standard expenses not reimbursed separately
- Local candidates strongly preferred
- Travel arrangements may be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates outside the standard fifty-mile radius
TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE: This effectively doubles the value of this contract opportunity. If you know another qualified controls engineer, you could potentially work together on this project.
Technical Requirements and Skill Expectations
This project demands professionals who can walk onto a production floor and immediately add value. Therefore, the technical requirements reflect real-world automation complexity rather than wishlist thinking. With two controls engineers needed, there’s flexibility for complementary skill sets between the two professionals.
Mandatory Skills:
- Allen Bradley PLC programming and troubleshooting expertise
- Hands-on experience with FactoryTalk View and Studio 5000 (formerly RSLogix 5000)
- ControlLogix platform familiarity including distributed I/O architecture
- Strong diagnostic skills for industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet)
- Proven ability to read, modify, and optimize existing PLC code written by others
Highly Valued Skills:
- FANUC robot programming experience with R-30iB controller
- Keyence LJX vision system configuration and integration
- Prior tire manufacturing or rubber processing automation experience
- HMI development and optimization skills
- Understanding of material handling systems and conveyor logic
The tire manufacturing industry presents unique challenges. Specifically, it combines high-speed material handling with precision assembly operations. Cycle time optimization becomes critical when dealing with large, heavy components moving through multiple stations. Vision systems must reliably detect part presence and orientation despite varying lighting conditions and surface characteristics inherent in rubber materials. Consequently, engineers who have worked in tire plants or similar rubber processing facilities bring valuable perspective that accelerates troubleshooting and reduces learning curves. With two engineers on site, the combination of complementary skills can tackle these challenges more effectively.
How Automate America Fills Multiple-Position Contracts Instantly
When a manufacturing facility posts urgent automation needs—especially for multiple positions—time matters enormously. Production downtime accumulates costs rapidly, and delayed automation projects push back revenue projections for entire quarters. Finding two qualified controls engineers simultaneously through traditional staffing approaches becomes exponentially more difficult.
Automate America operates differently. Moreover, our network of over 40,000 automation professionals means we connect qualified engineers to projects within hours rather than weeks. We maintain relationships with independent contractors and automation service companies across every state who trust our platform because we respect their expertise and compensate them fairly. When a facility needs two controls engineers, we can often fill both positions from qualified applicants within days.
Additionally, our platform eliminates the negotiation dance that wastes everyone’s time. Manufacturing facilities post their contracts at rates they’re genuinely willing to pay. Engineers and service companies review the scope, timeline, and compensation, then apply if the opportunity matches their skills and availability. Automate America reviews applications and connects the most qualified professionals to the customer. There’s no race to the bottom, no lengthy back-and-forth, no games.
This Waterloo tire manufacturing project exemplifies how substantial automation contracts should work. The scope is clearly defined, the timeline is realistic, the compensation is transparent, and the potential for extension is explicitly stated. Engineers can make informed decisions about applying because all the critical information is available upfront. With two positions available, there’s even opportunity for colleagues or teams to apply together.
Are you ready to join our network? Register as an automation professional here and start receiving notifications about contracts that match your skill set.
Tire Manufacturing Automation: Industry Context and Applications
The agricultural equipment industry depends on specialized tire assemblies that differ significantly from automotive or commercial truck tires. Large farm equipment requires wheel assemblies engineered to handle extreme loads, varying terrain conditions, and seasonal weather challenges. Accordingly, the automation systems supporting tire manufacturing for this sector must achieve both high precision and robust reliability.
Modern tire rooms integrate multiple automation technologies working in concert. Robotic systems handle heavy lifting and positioning tasks that would risk worker injury if performed manually. PLC-controlled conveyor systems sequence parts through assembly stations with precise timing. Vision systems verify correct part orientation before each assembly operation and inspect completed assemblies for defects or missing components.
Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs serve as the backbone for coordinating these diverse systems. They manage everything from basic I/O for sensors and actuators to complex motion control for servos and sophisticated communication protocols for robot integration. FactoryTalk View HMI systems provide operators with real-time visibility into production metrics, alarm management, and manual intervention capabilities when automatic operations require human judgment.
FANUC robots excel in tire manufacturing applications because they combine the payload capacity needed for heavy components with the programming flexibility required for mixed-model production. The R-30iB controller supports advanced features like vision integration, force sensing, and coordinated motion with external axes. This versatility makes FANUC systems particularly well-suited for assembly operations where part variations and line changeovers occur regularly.
Keyence LJX vision systems provide high-speed laser profiling capabilities essential for dimensional verification and surface inspection. These systems can measure profile data at speeds exceeding 64,000 scans per second with micron-level precision. In tire manufacturing, this technology verifies bead seating, detects surface irregularities, and confirms proper component alignment before wheels proceed to final assembly or testing stations.
The Waterloo region has significant manufacturing heritage supporting agricultural equipment production. Local expertise in hydraulic systems, heavy fabrication, and precision assembly operations creates an environment where advanced automation projects can succeed. Manufacturers in this area understand that investing in modern automation technology isn’t optional for remaining competitive in global markets. Furthermore, they recognize that successful automation projects require skilled engineers who can bridge the gap between equipment capabilities and production requirements. The need for two controls engineers on this project demonstrates the scope and importance of this installation.
Training Resources and Professional Development
Automation professionals committed to long-term career success invest continuously in expanding their technical capabilities. While vendor training courses provide essential product-specific knowledge, regional training providers often deliver more accessible and cost-effective options for skill development.
Iowa-Based Training Resources:
Hawkeye Community College Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics Center in Waterloo offers hands-on PLC programming courses, industrial networking training, and robotics fundamentals. Their industry-aligned curriculum includes Allen Bradley platforms and provides flexible scheduling options for working professionals seeking skill enhancement without leaving their current positions.
Iowa State University Engineering Professional Development delivers advanced technical courses covering control systems design, industrial automation, and manufacturing systems integration. Their programs attract engineers from across the Midwest seeking university-level instruction combined with practical application focus relevant to manufacturing environments.
Beyond formal training programs, successful automation engineers develop expertise through diverse project experience across multiple industries. Working exclusively within a single manufacturing facility limits exposure to different approaches, technologies, and problem-solving methodologies. In contrast, contract work exposes engineers to varied automation architectures, vendor platforms, and industry-specific requirements that accelerate professional growth and market value.
Strategic Advantages of Contract-to-Hire Relationships
Manufacturing facilities increasingly recognize that contract-to-hire arrangements reduce risk and improve hiring outcomes compared to traditional direct employment approaches. When a company brings contractors onto projects before making permanent employment offers, both parties benefit from an extended evaluation period that reveals compatibility, work style, and cultural fit. With two positions available on this project, the facility has excellent opportunity to evaluate multiple professionals for potential permanent roles.
Benefits for Manufacturing Facilities:
- Evaluate technical capabilities through actual project performance rather than interview responses
- Assess problem-solving approach and communication skills in real production environments
- Verify cultural fit and team dynamics before making permanent commitments
- Scale workforce flexibility up or down based on actual project demands and business conditions
- Avoid costly hiring mistakes that damage team morale and consume management bandwidth
Benefits for Automation Professionals:
- Experience company culture and management style before committing to permanent employment
- Evaluate project types, technology stack, and long-term career growth potential
- Demonstrate value and negotiate from position of proven performance rather than interview promises
- Maintain professional flexibility without burning bridges if the opportunity doesn’t meet expectations
- Build reputation and network through successful project completions across multiple facilities
Importantly, Automate America does not charge placement fees when contractors transition to direct employment with client companies. This policy eliminates the perverse incentive that causes traditional staffing agencies to discourage permanent hiring or charge prohibitive fees that penalize both employers and employees. When a manufacturing facility wants to hire one or both of our contractors directly, we celebrate that outcome rather than creating obstacles.
The Strategic Value of Professional Independence
Traditional employment relationships emerged during an industrial era when economic stability favored long-term commitments between workers and corporations. That world no longer exists. Markets shift rapidly, technologies evolve constantly, and competitive advantages disappear overnight. Consequently, both manufacturers and professionals benefit from flexible relationships that adapt to changing conditions rather than rigid structures optimized for a vanished economic reality.
For automation professionals, independence creates opportunity that employment constrains. Working across multiple industries and facilities accelerates skill development far beyond what single-company employment enables. An engineer who has programmed assembly systems for automotive suppliers, material handling for distribution centers, and process control for food manufacturers possesses perspective and problem-solving capabilities that specialists within single industries cannot match. Each project adds tools to the mental toolkit. Each industry teaches different approaches to similar technical challenges.
Manufacturing facilities gain advantage through contract relationships that provide exactly the expertise needed for exactly the duration required. Permanent employees represent fixed costs that must be justified regardless of project pipelines or business cycles. Contractors deliver variable capacity that scales with actual needs. When a facility needs deep expertise in FANUC robotics for a three-month integration project, contracting that capability makes economic sense. Hiring permanent staff for temporary needs creates unnecessary overhead and forces difficult decisions when projects complete. With two positions needed for this Waterloo project, the facility demonstrates smart workforce planning—bringing in specialized talent precisely when required.
Automation service companies find strategic value in the Automate America platform when their workload fluctuates. During busy periods, they can contract additional qualified engineers from our network to meet customer commitments without turning away profitable work. During slow periods, they can deploy their bench engineers to our customer contracts rather than accumulating non-billable costs. This flexibility stabilizes revenue, maintains workforce engagement, and positions service companies for sustainable growth. Some service companies might even place both engineers on this Waterloo contract if they have available qualified talent.
Human resource managers who view Automate America as merely another staffing vendor miss the fundamental distinction. We do not recruit candidates and extract margins from placement fees. Instead, we operate a transparent marketplace where manufacturers post real opportunities at honest rates and professionals apply based on their skills and availability. Our revenue model aligns our interests with successful projects rather than maximizing placement volumes regardless of fit quality.
This Waterloo tire manufacturing project exemplifies how modern automation workforce strategy should function. The facility needs two skilled engineers for defined scope over predictable duration with clear potential for extension. They’ve posted transparent compensation that reflects market value. Qualified professionals can evaluate the opportunity based on complete information and make informed decisions. Everyone involved understands the terms and expectations. Consequently, the project will succeed because it’s built on honest foundations rather than information asymmetry and conflicting incentives.
Take the Next Step in Your Automation Career
Thank you for investing your time reading this comprehensive overview of opportunities in Waterloo’s tire manufacturing automation sector. My goal in writing detailed technical content goes beyond simple job postings. I want every engineer who reads this to gain actionable knowledge about industry applications, emerging technologies, and strategic career decisions that create lasting professional value.
The automation industry needs more professionals who combine deep technical expertise with broad cross-industry experience. Moreover, manufacturing facilities need access to skilled engineers without navigating broken staffing models that prioritize agency profits over successful outcomes. Automate America exists to solve both problems through transparent marketplace principles and genuine respect for automation professionals.
If either of these two Waterloo controls engineering positions interests you, submit your application directly here. For manufacturing facilities seeking automation expertise, post your contract requirements here and connect with our network of over 40,000 qualified professionals.
Tony Wallace
Co-Founder, Automate America
586-770-8083
