Principal Automation Engineer

Hoffman & Hoffman•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

The Principal Automation Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for overseeing complex automation programs and portfolios across multi-system, plant-level, and enterprise environments. The role establishes engineering standards, approves system architecture, and serves as an escalation point for complex technical issues in support of the Principal Automation Engineer. It combines strategic contributions—including technical training, standards governance, and business development support—with oversight of technical execution across multiple projects. The position requires extensive industrial automation, instrumentation and controls, PLC/DDC programming, and control system architecture experience, along with leadership across large-scale projects or multi-site programs. The engineer provides technical direction for HVAC, BAS, plant-level systems, HMI/SCADA, industrial networks, testing, commissioning, and project documentation. Travel may be required, with up to 30% travel including regular overnight stays for non-local client sites, and up to 100% travel to local client sites.

Requirements

10–15+ years of experience in industrial automation, instrumentation and controls, PLC/DDC programming, and control system architecture.
Demonstrated leadership experience across multiple large-scale projects or multi-site programs.
Broad exposure to multiple automation platforms, building automation projects, multi-system integration, industrial networking architecture, and field commissioning.
Expert-level understanding of HVAC, BAS, and plant-level systems.
Ability to evaluate and recommend enterprise-wide system architecture and integration strategies.
Ability to establish control system architecture standards and provide final design review and approval.
Ability to define enterprise HMI/SCADA standards and approve architecture across multiple programs.
Ability to own PLC/DDC programming standards, reusable code libraries, and platform selection guidance.
Expert-level understanding of industrial protocols and OT network design, including alignment of designs with cybersecurity requirements.
Ability to approve testing strategies, acceptance criteria, and commissioning plans across multiple projects.
Strategic thinking to align engineering execution with organizational goals and industry trends.
Excellent communication skills for managing client expectations, executive stakeholders, and cross-functional coordination.
Ability to take ownership of technical quality, scope, schedule, and financial performance across concurrent projects.
Ability to train and mentor engineering staff and contribute to organizational standards and training programs.
Previous experience as an HBT Lead Automation Engineer, or an associate degree in a related technical discipline, is accepted as an education pathway; equivalent technical training combined with relevant experience may also be considered.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (preferred).
Professional Engineering (PE) license.
Experience mentoring senior-level engineering staff and contributing to organizational engineering standards.
Advanced scripting ability in Python or Java.

Responsibilities

Establish control system architecture standards for large-scale or multi-site programs.
Provide final technical review and approval in support of, or in the absence of, the Principal Automation Engineer.
Define enterprise HMI/SCADA standards, templates, and graphics libraries; approve system architecture and graphics standards across multiple programs.
Own PLC/DDC programming standards, reusable code libraries, and platform selection guidance across programs.
Approve technical scope and deliverables for complex, multi-system projects.
Approve testing strategies, acceptance criteria, and commissioning plans across a portfolio of projects.
Own documentation standards and templates, and approve project documentation across programs.
Develop and deliver technical training for the engineering team.
Mentor Senior Automation Engineers, Lead Automation Engineers, and other engineering staff.
Support sales and management with client presentations, proposals, and scope development for large or strategic pursuits.
Follow office and site safety procedures and participate in mandatory safety training, such as OSHA-10.
Perform periodic quality reviews of PLC programs, system architectures, and engineering submittals across a portfolio of projects.
Own scope, schedule, and financial performance across a portfolio of concurrent projects.
Support enterprise-level project controls governance.
Travel to client sites as required, including overnight stays for non-local sites.