Automation Estimation Engineer

Cybertrol Engineering•Plymouth, MN

1d•$90,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a HYBRID role based in Maple Grove, MN. At Cybertrol, you will apply your skills in a culture that focuses on commitment to high quality solutions for our customers while emphasizing personal and professional growth for our employees. Our core values are reflected in everything we do. Our dedication to being "Passionate," "Authentic," and "Willing to Help" makes a significant impact on our work culture and the success of our projects. Cybertrol Engineering creates and delivers custom-engineered automation hardware and software solutions to manufacturing customers throughout the upper Midwest and across the world. The firm is privately owned, headquartered in Minneapolis, and has additional offices in Madison and Marshfield, WI. There is an extraordinarily strong engineering culture that emphasizes both personal and professional growth along with a commitment to providing high-quality solutions, including: plant-wide automation, information, and industrial IT (Information Technology) infrastructure; custom control panel design and fabrication; and upgrades of obsolete automation systems. The Solutions Architect is a senior, customer-facing technical role responsible for defining, estimating, and delivering industrial automation solutions that align to customer needs and Cybertrol capabilities. This role blends front-end solution development (scope definition, proposal creation, and technical consultation) with architecture-level engineering leadership (functional specifications, PLC/HMI software strategy, simulation, and commissioning support). The Solutions Architect partners with Business Development, Engineering, and Operations to ensure solutions are technically sound, commercially clear, and executed with high quality—serving as a trusted consultant to customers throughout the sales cycle and project lifecycle. Ability to travel up to 15% for scope-definition visits to customer sites, quarterly business reviews for assigned accounts, project commissioning support as needed, and trade show attendance. A valid driver’s license is required.

Requirements

B.S. in Engineering (Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, Chemical) or related engineering field; or Associate Degree in Engineering Technology (Electrical, Computer, IT, Electro-Mechanical) or related engineering technology field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in industrial automation
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing PLC/HMI solutions, including commissioning/startup support
Experience producing customer-facing technical documentation (e.g., functional specifications, proposals, scope documents) and presenting solutions to stakeholders
Ability to architect and explain technical solutions to both technical and non-technical customer contacts
Strong consultative skills, including discovery, and managing ambiguity to a defined scope
Effective technical writing skills with the ability to create clear, structured specifications and proposal content
Ability to provide technical support for business development, including system-level troubleshooting and project technical assistance
Proven ability to work independently, overcome resistance, and manage multiple requests while following standard workflows
Ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, Operations, and Sales, including engaging specialty resources for uncommon applications
Demonstrated leadership skills, including mentoring, technical guidance, and contributing to a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence
Desire to continuously learn new technologies and applications; commitment to staying current with vendor and industry developments
Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office and internal business systems/applications
A valid driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

Work directly with Cybertrol management and customers to understand business objectives, technical constraints, and success criteria; translate needs into a clear project scope and solution approach
Create estimations, bill of materials, and proposal documents for internal review and external customer presentation
Architect end-to-end industrial automation solutions, including controls, networks, software, and services, leveraging Cybertrol standards and approved vendor offerings
Develop clear and well-structured Functional Specifications and other required technical documentation to support project execution
Design and develop automation strategies as Project Architect, providing system-level thinking, problem-solving, and technical leadership across disciplines
Develop and implement complex PLC/HMI code in a modern, team-based software framework; support simulation, testing, and customer acceptance activities as required
Partner with Manufacturing Intelligence, Hardware, and Industrial OT engineers to deliver comprehensive solutions that meet customer requirements
Consult with customers’ technical teams to validate requirements, review technical specifications, and provide clarifications, exceptions, and recommended alternatives
Present proposals and technical recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, clearly articulating how the solution addresses customer needs
Maintain customer engagement throughout the project lifecycle and for a period following commissioning to ensure successful adoption and identify follow-on opportunities
Ensure quality processes are followed to deliver high-quality, reliable, and maintainable solutions and software
Build and maintain vendor relationships by becoming certified and/or registered within key partner organizations (e.g., Cisco, Panduit, VMware) and staying current on relevant technologies
Remain current on customer preferences and solution options by attending sales meetings, vendor trainings, trade shows, and reviewing industry publications
Provide account management support for assigned house accounts, including periodic customer visits, identifying potential needs, developing scope, assembling proposals, and presenting recommendations