Sr. Controls Design Engineer

About the role

This role focuses on the design, implementation, and support of advanced instrumentation and control systems for large-scale industrial and process-based environments. The Controls Design Engineer leads technical design efforts, supports field execution, and collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams and clients from concept development through commissioning and start-up. The position offers the opportunity to work on complex automation projects, contribute to full lifecycle project execution, and provide technical leadership and mentorship within a collaborative, technically driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to the design and execution of industrial automation and control system projects, ensuring high standards of quality, cost effectiveness, and safety.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop instrumentation specifications and control system architectures, including PLC, SCADA, and DCS platforms.
• Perform detailed instrumentation and control system design for industrial, manufacturing, and utility-based facilities.
• Develop specifications and perform calculations for flow meters, analyzers, transmitters, and related field instrumentation.
• Select equipment with careful consideration of environmental conditions and classification requirements.
• Perform control system evaluations and studies, including troubleshooting existing systems and developing conceptual designs for new systems.
• Support retrofit and system upgrade efforts by assessing existing installations and recommending improvements.
• Produce detailed engineering deliverables such as instrument specifications and selection documentation, control logic diagrams, loop drawings, I/O lists, instrument indexes, and plan drawings.
• Cookordinate and oversee instrumentation and controls design activities within multi-discipline project teams to ensure alignment and integration.
• Provide on-site technical field support, including commissioning and start-up assistance for new or upgraded systems.
• Cookordinate construction and installation activities related to instrumentation and control systems, working closely with site personnel and contractors.
• Support project execution activities, including schedule management, deliverables tracking, and progress reporting.
• Provide technical leadership on controls-focused scopes within broader project environments, ensuring consistency and quality of solutions.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, designers, and drafters by providing guidance, reviews, and technical coaching.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with stakeholders to ensure alignment on technical scope, timelines, and deliverables.
• Ensure all work complies with applicable standards, codes, and project requirements while maintaining a strong safety focus.
• Participate in client meetings and technical reviews to clarify requirements, present solutions, and address technical questions.
• Contribute to cost estimating, proposal development, and project scoping activities as needed.
• Support client engagement and, where applicable, assist with technical sales or business development activities related to controls and instrumentation.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
  • 10+ years of experience in industrial automation and control systems design.
  • Strong working with PLC systems, including configuration, programming, and troubleshooting.
  • Hands-on experience with SCADA platforms and related visualization and control interfaces.
  • Experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS) in industrial or process-driven environments.
  • Proficiency in developing and interpreting instrumentation and controls documentation, including P&IDs, loop diagrams, and I/O lists.
  • Proven experience developing instrumentation specifications and control system architectures and logic.
  • Demonstrated ability to produce complete engineering design deliverables such as control logic diagrams, loop sheets, and instrument indexes.
  • Practical experience in controls design, including control panel design and electrical design for automation systems.
  • Proficiency with tools related to controls design such as AutoCAD Electrical for creating and modifying electrical drawings.
  • Experience with instrumentation design tools such as SPI, InTools, or similar platforms.
  • Exposure to cost estimating and proposal development for controls and instrumentation scopes.
  • Experience with project scoping and technical sales support activities.
  • Participation in client engagement or business development activities related to automation and control solutions.
  • Experience leading or supervising engineers, designers, and drafters in a project or departmental setting.
  • Familiarity with functional safety systems and industry standards, including Safety Integrity Level (SIL) concepts.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior team members.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in preparing engineering documentation and deliverables.

  Skills

  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams or locations.
  • Willingness and ability to travel as needed for project execution, site activities, commissioning and start-up, and client meetings and technical reviews.

  Benefits

  If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

  • Medical, dental & vision
  • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
  • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
  • Short and long-term disability
  • Health Spending Account (HSA)
  • Transportation benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)