Principal Controls Engineer
About The Position
The Principal Controls Engineer will lead assigned technical reviews and make release-readiness recommendations. This role involves establishing and maintaining recommended architecture, programming, HMI, network, cybersecurity, testing, and documentation practices. The engineer will identify and escalate technical, safety, quality, cybersecurity, schedule, or lifecycle risks, and has the authority to stop or delay assigned technical work when requirements are inadequate. This position also involves mentoring and providing technical direction without assuming people-management authority unless formally assigned. The role requires defining standard automation architectures for hot cells, Glycol Systems, Deicing Solutions, and related product platforms, and establishing PLC programming standards, HMI standards, and industrial network architecture. The engineer will translate functional requirements into complete controls design packages, lead design reviews, develop simulation and testing practices, lead troubleshooting and commissioning efforts, mentor engineers, and evaluate technology for adoption.
Requirements
- Expert PLC programming, HMI, controls architecture, electrical design, industrial networking, system integration, and machine/process sequencing knowledge.
- Advanced Rockwell Automation, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View, or equivalent platform proficiency.
- Strong instrumentation, I/O, drives, motors, valves, pneumatics, safety circuits, interlocks, alarms, recipes, and data-system knowledge.
- Demonstrated ability to create reusable software, standard architectures, test methods, and maintainable design practices.
- Strong Working knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical.
- Ability to interpret schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, sequence documents, mechanical designs, and customer requirements.
- Strong mentoring, technical writing, troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing capability.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- Typically 10 or more years of progressive controls and automation experience with recent hands-on responsibility for complex industrial systems.
- Demonstrated experience developing, commissioning, documenting, and improving reusable automation platforms through multiple product or project cycles.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with regulated, validated, pharmaceutical, radiopharmaceutical, or similarly controlled equipment is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead assigned technical reviews and make release-readiness recommendations within delegated authority.
- Establish and maintain recommended architecture, programming, HMI, network, cybersecurity, testing, and documentation practices approved by the Manager.
- Identify and escalate technical, safety, quality, cybersecurity, schedule, or lifecycle risks.
- Stop or delay assigned technical work when released requirements, review evidence, test readiness, or safety controls are inadequate.
- Mentor and provide technical direction without assuming people-management authority unless formally assigned.
- Define standard automation architectures for hot cells, Glycol Systems, Deicing Solutions, and related product platforms.
- Establish PLC programming standards, reusable libraries, state models, sequencing methods, alarm strategies, diagnostics, tag structures, and software-documentation requirements.
- Establish HMI standards for navigation, visualization, alarms, operator guidance, security, trends, recipes, maintenance, and user experience.
- Define industrial network architecture, device integration, remote I/O, communications, data exchange, cybersecurity, backup, restore, and remote-access practices.
- Translate functional requirements and FDS content into complete controls design packages, software designs, I/O definitions, interface documents, test plans, and controlled releases.
- Lead software, electrical, controls, and integrated design reviews and confirm systems are testable, maintainable, serviceable, secure, and supportable.
- Develop simulation, emulation, code-review, automated-test, and version-control practices that improve quality before FAT.
- Lead difficult troubleshooting, commissioning, and root-cause investigations and convert lessons into controlled platform improvements.
- Mentor engineers and technicians through reviews, pairing, coaching, standards development, and practical instruction.
- Evaluate technology and recommend adoption based on business value, lifecycle support, cybersecurity, availability, standardization, and cost.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
