Employment
Want to be a Part of Our Growing Team?
For over fifty years, Sterling Systems & Controls, Inc. has designed, engineered, and specialized in producing custom-engineered material weighing and batching systems, bulk bag filling and unloading systems, process controls and automation systems, liquid handling systems, and more. The company is nestled in the heart of agricultural northern Illinois, in Sterling, IL. We offer highly competitive wages and company benefits. Sterling Systems & Controls, Inc. is looking to fill the following positions.
Please send applications and resumes to:
Human Resources
Sterling Systems & Controls, Inc.
P.O. Box 418 • Sterling, IL 61081
You can also apply using form below or contact us by phone for email address.
Customer Service Technician
Position Summary:
This position will work within the Customer Service Department to assist in providing high-level technical support and troubleshooting to customers for our custom automation and control systems. This role combines a deep understanding of our products with exceptional customer service to resolve complex issues, support system installations, and ensure client satisfaction.
The Customer Service Technician will work closely with internal engineering teams to diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and network-related issues, guide customers through system configurations, and provide training and technical documentation as needed. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in automation systems, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer support in a fast-paced environment.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Respond to customer inquiries via phone, email, and online platforms, providing prompt and accurate technical assistance.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve issues related to automation and control systems.
- Work with engineering and production teams to escalate and resolve complex technical issues.
- Maintain detailed records of customer interactions and technical resolutions.
- Assist engineering with in-house control panel testing when capacity allows.
- Assist engineering with electrical drawing updates and documentation when capacity allows.
Skills:
- Strong technical aptitude with knowledge of automation, control systems, and industrial technology.
- Ability to read and understand electrical drawings.
- Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to read and understand PLC code.
- Knowledge of computer operating systems (Windows) and ability to assist with light to moderate IT related issues.
- Outstanding customer service and communication abilities.
Knowledge, Education or Experience:
- Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Maintenance, Engineering, or related field experience.
- Experience with Allen Bradley Industrial Hardware.
- PLC, HMI, VFD, Soft Starters, Motor Starters
- Experience with troubleshooting PLC logic.
- Experience with Rockwell Software products (RSLogix / Studio5000 / Logix Designer / FactoryTalk View / Connected Components Workbench).
- Experience in CAD software.
- Experience with HubSpot / ServiceHub is a plus.
Characteristics Required:
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with internal teams.
- Able to Travel occasionally for onsite customer service.
- Dependable.
- Flexible to changing priorities and routines.
Physical Requirements:
- Long periods of standing or sitting, with extended periods of work at a computer.
- Squatting, lifting and stretching.
Senior Electrical Controls Engineer
Position Summary:
This position Designs, Manages, and Executes material handling plant automation projects from estimating through engineering and installation/commissioning with an emphasis on Electrical Design and Controls aspects of the project.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Estimate Materials and Labor for new material handling plant automation solutions.
- Specify Components and Create Electrical Designs for Control Panels.
- Follow UL 508A, NEC, and NFPA Standards in Industrial Control Designs.
- Create well documented Customer Approval Packages.
- Use E-Plan and DraftSight software to create production ready drawings.
- HMI and PLC Programming (Allen-Bradley PLC’s, FactoryTalk View ME/SE).
- Conduct in-house checkout of completed systems.
- Attend vendor and customer factor acceptance tests.
- Write detailed instruction manuals for completed projects.
- Assist customers with onsite and phone troubleshooting and system start-up.
- Research new technology available in market and contribute to new designs and developments.
- Support Sales Staff when technical experience/expertise is required.
- Take on role of project manager for assigned jobs including:
- Work with Engineering, Sales, Accounting and Office Staff.
- Direct, assist and mentor Associate and Intermediate Engineers, including review of work.
- Direct and coordinate Mechanical Design Staff on material handling equipment design and controls.
- Control project costs and define variations from estimates.
- Maintain contact with customers throughout project.
- Develop, monitor, and control project timelines and schedule.
- Communicate and request technical information from vendors and customers.
- Work with Purchasing Department to procure project materials and address supply chain issues.
- Assist customers with onsite and phone troubleshooting and system startup.
Skills:
- Accuracy and high attention to detail.
- High level of Electrical, Software, and Mechanical aptitude.
- Time management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written grammar skills.
- Problem solving ability.
- Methodical thinking skills.
- Ability to communicate to all levels of plant personnel.
- Ability to change tasks frequently and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Knowledge, Education or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
- UL MTR Certified or willing to become UL MTR Certified.
- Experienced in E-Plan and DraftSight (or AutoCAD) software.
- Proficient in Control Panel design following UL 508A, NEC, NFPA standards.
- Experience with Allen-Bradley Hardware (PLC’s, VFD’s, SoftStarts, HMI’s, etc.).
- Experience with Rockwell Software products (FactoryTalk View, Logic Designer, CCW).
- Experience with Industrial Controls, Material Handling Systems, and Plant Automation preferably from an OEM Machine Builder or Systems Integrator perspective.
Characteristics Required:
- Ability to work independently without supervision.
- Travel enthusiast (Drive, fly and other means of travel).
- Dependable hard working.
- Flexible to changing priorities and routines.
Physical Requirements:
- Long periods of standing or sitting, with extended periods of work at a computer & traveling.
- Squatting, lifting and stretching.
Associate Software Engineer
This position works under the direction of project managers to program and develop software applications on many different platforms. The position provides customer support during startup as well as troubleshooting.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Work under the direction of Senior Engineers.
- Modify existing customer programs.
- Programming of material handling application using various platforms.
- Create customer approval packages and sequence of operations.
- Write detailed instruction manuals for completed projects.
- Conduct in-house checkout of completed systems.
- Research new technology available in market.
- Assist customers with onsite and phone troubleshooting and system startup.
Skills:
- Accuracy and high attention to detail.
- Time management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written grammar skills.
- Problem solving ability.
- Methodical thinking skills.
- Ability to communicate to all levels of plant personnel.
Knowledge, Education or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or related field experience to include but not limited to:
- C++ and C# programming languages; WPF, ASP.NET; SQL Scripting; and SSRS. Have an understanding of Ling-To-SQL, MVVM, and Prism patterns and practices.
- Knowledge of PLC programming is a Plus.
- Electrical/Electronics Aptitude with ability to read basic schematics is a Plus.
- Mechanically inclined is a Plus.
Characteristics Required:
- Ability to work independently without supervision.
- Travel enthusiast (Drive, fly and other means of travel).
- Dependable hard working.
- Flexible to changing priorities and routines.
Physical Requirements:
- Long periods of standing or sitting, with extended periods of work at a computer & traveling.
- Squatting, lifting and stretching.
Project Manager
This position will manage material handling and plant automation projects from start to finish.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Support Engineering Staff.
- Work with Accounting and Office Staff.
- Support Sales Staff.
- Estimate materials and labor for new material handling plant automation solutions.
- Maintain contact with customers throughout project.
- Take on role of project manager for assigned jobs.
- Provide direction to Associate and Intermediate Engineers and Production Technicians.
- Control project costs and define variations from estimates.
- Develop, monitor, and control project timelines and schedule.
- Work with Purchasing Department to procure project materials and address supply chain issues.
- Work with Engineering Staff to produce well documented Customer Approval Packages.
- Communicate and request technical information from vendors and customers.
- Attend vendor and customer factory acceptance tests.
- Assist customers with onsite and phone troubleshooting and system start-up.
- Work with Engineering Staff to collect and write detailed instruction manuals for completed projects.
Skills:
- Accuracy and high attention to detail.
- Organized.
- Good understanding of Mechanical, Electrical, and Software concepts in regards to Material Handling and Plant Automation Systems.
- Time management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written grammar skills.
- Problem solving ability.
- Methodical thinking skills.
- Ability to communicate to all levels of plant personnel.
- Ability to change tasks frequently and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Knowledge, Education or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Experience with Industrial Controls, Material Handling Systems, and Plant Automation.
- Experience in Project Management.
- Experience in Scheduling.
Characteristics Required:
- Ability to work independently without supervision.
- Dependable hard working.
- Flexible to changing priorities and routines.
Physical Requirements:
- Long periods of standing or sitting, with extended periods of work at a computer & traveling.
- Squatting, lifting and stretching.