PLC Controls Engineer — Siemens TIA Portal Specialist

Location: Apple Grove, WV (near Huntington) | Type: Contract-to-Hire | Compensation: $50–55/hr DOE + $120/day per diem (hotel & meals) | Schedule: 1st Shift, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 40-hr base week with overtime potential

Day in the Life

At 7:00 AM, you open Siemens TIA Portal and start with a true blank canvas. No legacy code. No patchwork fixes. You architect PLC logic around process requirements and control narratives, mapping I/O, building data structures, and shaping a clean, maintainable program from the ground up. By mid-morning, you’re aligning HMI/SCADA screens with your tag database, then heading to the floor to commission, test, and tune loops. The afternoon brings collaboration with electricians on wiring and sensor placement, field troubleshooting, and meticulous documentation for turnover.

What You’ll Build and Own

• Develop new PLC programs in Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal (S7-300/400/1200/1500) using ladder, function block, and structured text
• Engineer I/O configurations, data structures, and a scalable program architecture aligned to control narratives
• Integrate HMI/SCADA (e.g., WinCC, FactoryTalk, PanelView or similar) and configure comprehensive tag databases
• Commission in the field: I/O checkout, loop tuning, and on-site debugging in a heavy industrial environment
• Interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, and panel layouts; coordinate with electricians and controls techs for wiring and sensor installation
• Document logic and system architecture thoroughly for handoff and long-term maintainability

Why This Role Is Different

This isn’t a tweak-and-troubleshoot job. It’s greenfield development. If most of your background involves only modifying existing logic, this won’t be the right fit.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of hands-on, from-scratch PLC programming (strong preference: Siemens Step 7 / TIA Portal)
• Consideration for equivalent experience on Allen‑Bradley (RSLogix 5000 / Studio 5000), Omron, Mitsubishi, or Schneider
• Fluency with electrical schematics, I/O wiring, and control panel layouts
• Ability to read P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and panel schematics
• Knowledge of NEC/IEC wiring standards and LOTO safety practices
• Comfort working independently on-site in a heavy industrial setting

Nice to Have

• HMI/SCADA development (Siemens WinCC, FactoryTalk, PanelView, or similar)
• Industrial networking: Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet
• Motion control or safety PLC experience
• Background in large-scale metals or heavy manufacturing projects

About the Opportunity

Mural has partnered with a global leader in metals and industrial manufacturing on a major project in Apple Grove, WV. You’ll help create control systems from the ground up and see your work go from concept to live production with a path to full-time employment.