Controls Engineer
The Palmer Group · Montezuma, IA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at The Palmer Group (industrial) in Montezuma, IA. Develop a machine control system and select control components.
- They ask for
- 2+ years
- Tools it names
- Robotics, Automation
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $98k–$140k.
Median of the low and high ends of 339 live postings that list pay, out of 994 controls engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 12 other live controls postings in Iowa.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 4+)
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 69%
- PLC 62%
- ✓ Robotics 46%
- Tooling 38%
- Team leadership 38%
- Root cause 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at The Palmer Group
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from The Palmer GroupAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you will do
- ◆Develop a machine control system and select control components
- ◆Generate new methods for optimizing robots on multiple platforms and integrate the robot into specific designs
- ◆Produce new software functions for various platforms
- ◆Create control programs for new applications involving multiple robots
- ◆Oversee new equipment projects through production ramp and carry out projects impacting multiple departments
- ◆Build processes and tools to manage projects
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
We've partnered with this growing company, known for its international notoriety and respect, to fill the Controls Engineer position. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and implementing automation systems, creating training materials, and mentoring others to support the production projects. You will also enjoy attractive benefits and pay.
Work Model
- •On-Site
- •3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
to succeed
- •2+ years of machine controls experience
- •Automated vision system experience with C# programming language experience
- •Electrical hardware and electrical design experience
- •Strong communication skills
- •Project leadership experience