PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) Programmer Recruiters
At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.
Hire someone who writes original code to manage your hardware instead of editing others.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
Tell us who you need.
Role and contact first. The rest is optional.
- No upfront fee
- Pay only if you hire
- Skilled trades only
- We reach tradespeople who aren't on job boards
- Replacement guarantee on standard searches
What this hire really comes down to
Production slows to a crawl when a new hire talks a good game but cannot actually build code from a blank screen. Many resumes look right because of shared titles but they only ever performed minor edits on someone else's work. You need someone who writes original routines to manage your PLC hardware and safety interlocks during high speed cycles. We look for proof of original authorship in their past projects before we ever send them to your floor. A real fit shows you how they handle fault diagnostics and timing in the actual software environment.
Do not settle for someone who treats your machine as a black box they fear to change. We verify they speak the language of your Modbus, Profinet, and EtherNet/IP setup by reviewing their specific diagnostic logic. They must demonstrate how they handle live cabinet commissioning under NFPA 70E standards. The person you hire needs to align motor drive parameters with physical mechanical limits immediately. We confirm they document their logic so your team can maintain the equipment after they finish. They possess the intuition to stop hardware damage before it happens.
What we check before you see anyone
- Verify their coding depth by asking for specific examples of original subroutines they authored. You want to see code that handles fault diagnostics, manages latching versus momentary triggers, and maintains safety interlocks during high speed industrial operation sequences for your machinery.
- Test their grasp of communication protocols essential to your environment. Confirm their experience with real world integration involving Modbus, Profinet, or EtherNet/IP, as these facilitate the interaction between hardware, HMI interfaces, and the central control processor you currently operate.
- Evaluate their knowledge of NFPA 70E safety standards regarding energized cabinets. Since this role involves live system testing and commissioning, they must demonstrate maturity in working with high voltage environments while keeping the control software stable, predictable, and fully compliant.
- Gauge their mechanical intuition by discussing motor drive parameters and pneumatic cylinder timing. A strong programmer understands that software does not exist in a vacuum and must align perfectly with physical machine limits to avoid hardware damage or cycle waste.
- Assess their ability to document code for future site maintenance. Ask how they track logic changes across multiple project sites, ensuring your team has the resources to support the equipment once the initial commissioning phase concludes and the programmer eventually departs.
Where we find them
Look for these professionals within systems integration firms and specialized panel building shops. These environments force programmers to handle diverse hardware platforms and intense project cycles, fostering the grit needed to solve unexpected logic bugs. They are accustomed to jumping between client sites, making them ideal candidates for field service roles that demand rapid deployment into your production facility.
Contact people currently employed by original equipment manufacturers as service engineers. While they may have narrow hardware exposure, they possess deep knowledge of specific machine platforms. Many seek a move to end user or integrator roles when they want broader project variety or an escape from rigid corporate travel schedules that keep them away from home for long periods.
Mistakes we see
- Do not mistake an instrumentation technician for a programmer; technicians verify hardware calibration and physical wiring but typically lack the logic development skills required for software.
- Avoid candidates who only perform minor adjustments on existing templates, as they often struggle to design architecture from the ground up during new or complex installations.
- Stop interviewing candidates who cannot explain their specific error trapping methodology, as they represent a significant risk to machine safety and reliable production throughput during faults.
The search in three steps
Identify Systems Integrators
Locate regional systems integration firms that focus on automation control projects. Search for individuals with titles like Controls Specialist or Automation Programmer who manage commissioning phases at multiple client facilities.
Target Equipment Manufacturers
Search for field service engineers employed by industrial equipment manufacturers. Focus on those working with complex PLC architectures who now desire more autonomy in their programming work and less travel.
Monitor Trade Networks
Check professional technical communities and specific automation hardware forums. Look for active contributors who demonstrate advanced knowledge of IEC 61131-3 protocols and share practical solutions for complex logic diagnostic challenges.
Before you start the search
How long does a typical shortlist take to form without a specific deadline?
You should expect a qualified shortlist within two to three weeks of beginning the search. This timeframe allows for thorough vetting of technical experience and ensures we find active candidates.
How should we handle a candidate who receives a counteroffer?
If a candidate receives a counteroffer, we immediately review their underlying motivations for moving. We prioritize those who seek professional growth over salary bumps, as they avoid these traps.
What is the industry expectation for travel and per diem?
PLC programmers frequently travel for commissioning. Employers usually cover all travel expenses plus a daily per diem rate to offset living costs while the professional is away from home.
How do you handle licensing and technical fit for this role?
We vet candidates against your specific PLC hardware and programming language requirements. We confirm their technical background, leaving background and MVR checks to your internal HR and compliance team.
What is the fee structure for hiring this professional?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire. Fee terms are set out in the signed agreement.
Pay snapshot
$78,190 annual median · $37.59 hourly median
SOC 17-3023: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians. United States. Broader occupation.
BLS groups PLC Programmer within Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Released 2026-05-15. No estimate replaces a missing BLS value.
See the full salary guideOpen roles
What happens in The Six-Step Search?
Every Skilled Trades Headhunters client search follows the same six named steps. Here is what happens at each one and what you get from it.
- 1
Intake and calibration
We agree on the work, location, pay, schedule and credentials before contacting anyone.
What you get: You get a clear role profile with the deal breakers named up front.
- 2
Targeted market research
We map the trade backgrounds and local or traveling talent that fit. We use relevant employer types, referrals and public license lookups where available.
What you get: You get a search aimed at the actual work, not a job title alone.
- 3
Personal outreach
We contact working tradespeople individually about the opening and what would make a move worthwhile.
What you get: You reach people who are not replying to your job advertisement.
- 4
Live qualification
Each person is talked through the scope, equipment and schedule in a live conversation. Applicable licenses are checked with the issuing authority.
What you get: You only hear about people who understand the job and want it.
- 5
Written shortlist insight
We present a short list with a written brief on each person: what they do now, what they want and what to probe.
What you get: You interview a few people instead of reading a stack.
- 6
Interview and offer support
We help you prepare interviews, discuss the offer and address counteroffers. We stay in touch through the agreed start.
What you get: You have support for the hiring decision. The signed agreement sets the replacement terms.
What we do not do
- No hourly billing and no workers on our payroll.
- No retainer unless agreed in writing.
- No reposting your opening on job boards.
- Not a same-day labor hall.
- No drug, MVR or background checks; your company runs any the role requires.
Details on how our fee works.
Start a Search
Hire someone who writes original code to manage your hardware instead of editing others.
Contingency search. No fee unless you hire.
Tell us who you need.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.