Early Career Controls Engineer

WSP•Arlington, VA

About The Position

WSP is recruiting for an Early Career Controls Engineer to work out of our Arlington, VA office. The Early Career Controls Engineer supports the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of industrial control systems used in automation, power distribution, and process control environments. This role works under the supervision of senior engineers to develop control logic, assist with system integration, and support commissioning activities. The position provides hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), SCADA systems, instrumentation, and electrical control panels. Your Impact Assist in the design and development of industrial control systems including PLC, HMI, and SCADA-based automation platforms. Support development and modification of PLC logic, control narratives, and system documentation. Assist with configuration of HMI and SCADA systems for monitoring and control of facility processes. Support the development and implementation of control systems / SCADA domain cybersecurity policies and monitoring. Participate in preparation of engineering documents including control panel layouts, I/O lists, network architecture diagrams, and wiring diagrams. Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning activities. Troubleshoot control systems, application domains, communication networks, and instrumentation under guidance of senior engineers. Assist with integration of field devices including sensors, actuators, drives, and power monitoring equipment. Support field activities including equipment installation verification, system startup, and operational testing. Maintain documentation including as-built drawings, configuration backups, and revision records. Follow company safety procedures and engineering standards when working with electrical and control systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity or equivalent.
0-1 years’ experience with and basic understanding of industrial control systems, Information Technology (IT) and automation principles.
Due to client requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
Ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI Clearance.
Personal skills to include: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work both independently and as part of an engineering team.
Basic understanding of industrial control systems and automation principles.
Familiarity with PLC programming concepts and industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet/IP).
Basic knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, and control panel components.
Working knowledge of Ethernet networking concepts such as IP addressing, switching, routing basics, and network troubleshooting.
Understanding of Windows and Linux domain infrastructure, including Active Directory, Group Policy, authentication, and basic administrative tasks.
Familiarity with basic cybersecurity concepts, including safe computing practices, threat awareness, and data protection.

Nice To Haves

Internship or coursework related to automation, SCADA, PLC programming, or industrial control systems support network and computer domains.
Exposure to PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Schneider Electric.
Familiarity with SCADA or HMI platforms.
Experience reading electrical schematics and control drawings.
Interest in industrial automation, power systems, or process control.

Responsibilities

Assist in the design and development of industrial control systems including PLC, HMI, and SCADA-based automation platforms.
Support development and modification of PLC logic, control narratives, and system documentation.
Assist with configuration of HMI and SCADA systems for monitoring and control of facility processes.
Support the development and implementation of control systems / SCADA domain cybersecurity policies and monitoring.
Participate in preparation of engineering documents including control panel layouts, I/O lists, network architecture diagrams, and wiring diagrams.
Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning activities.
Troubleshoot control systems, application domains, communication networks, and instrumentation under guidance of senior engineers.
Assist with integration of field devices including sensors, actuators, drives, and power monitoring equipment.
Support field activities including equipment installation verification, system startup, and operational testing.
Maintain documentation including as-built drawings, configuration backups, and revision records.
Follow company safety procedures and engineering standards when working with electrical and control systems.