Experienced Controls Engineer

Pohlad Companies•Shoreview, MN

4d•$110,000 - $160,000

About The Position

PAR Systems is hiring a Controls Engineer for its Critical Handling Solutions (CHS) business segment, which designs and builds custom cranes, hoists, and specialized handling equipment. The engineer will develop electrical designs and PLC/HMI software for equipment used in nuclear, aerospace, and other demanding industrial environments. Placement across experience levels will depend on technical depth, independence, and leadership experience. Crane and nuclear experience are valuable, while candidates with backgrounds in motion control, custom machinery, or industrial material handling are also encouraged to apply. The role involves developing electrical and controls designs, programming and configuring equipment controls, and supporting equipment builds, testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning. Mid-career engineers will independently deliver assigned controls work, with guidance available for unfamiliar or complex applications. Senior engineers will additionally lead controls architecture and technical decisions, conduct design reviews, help estimate and plan work, and mentor other engineers. The position generally requires 0–10% travel for customer-site installation and commissioning, depending on project requirements. This is a salaried position with a targeted starting annual pay range of $110,000–$160,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Typically 3 or more years of relevant controls engineering experience; level depends on demonstrated capability and responsibility.
Experience developing both electrical designs and PLC/HMI software for industrial equipment.
Practical understanding of motors, variable-frequency drives, feedback devices, industrial communication networks, and motion-control fundamentals.
Ability to troubleshoot equipment across software, electrical, and mechanical interfaces.
Clear technical communication, sound engineering judgment, and ownership of assigned scope and schedule.
Willingness to learn and work within PAR’s nuclear quality, documentation, and design-review processes.
Willingness to travel for customer-site installation and commissioning, generally 0–10% depending on project requirements.
U.S. Person.

Nice To Haves

Experience with cranes, hoists, winches, or related equipment that lifts, moves, and positions loads.
Experience with Siemens PLCs and HMIs, TIA Portal, and Siemens or Magnetek drives.
Experience with AutoCAD Electrical or comparable electrical design software.
Experience with hoist brake control, closed-loop speed or position control, synchronized motion, and safety-related controls.
Knowledge of relevant electrical and crane standards, including NEC/NFPA 70, NFPA 79, UL 508A, CMAA, or ASME NOG-1.
Experience on nuclear or other regulated projects involving NQA-1, requirements traceability, configuration control, or formal verification and validation.
Technical leadership, design checking, mentoring, or a Professional Engineer license.
Crane or nuclear experience, or a strong background in motion control, custom machinery, or industrial material handling.

Responsibilities

Develop electrical schematics, control-panel layouts, bills of materials, and wiring designs.
Select motors, drives, protective devices, instrumentation, and control components.
Program PLCs and HMIs for crane and handling equipment, including operating sequences, motion control, interlocks, alarms, diagnostics, and fault recovery.
Configure drives and feedback devices, and integrate hoist brake sequencing, travel limits, load monitoring, and coordinated motion.
Support equipment builds and troubleshoot electrical and software issues.
Participate in factory acceptance testing and site commissioning.
Translate requirements into design documents and test procedures, maintain accurate engineering records, and follow applicable standards and project quality processes.
For senior-level work, lead controls architecture and technical decisions, conduct design reviews, help estimate and plan work, and mentor other engineers.