Staff Controls Engineer - Cary

EAD Management Services Inc • Cary, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join EAD to help solve complex controls and automation challenges in industrial facilities. EAD supports projects across industrial manufacturing facilities, including food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and parcel handling environments. This role offers the opportunity to lead a controls engineering team across projects of varying size and complexity in a fast-paced, multi-discipline, and practical engineering setting. The Controls Engineer delivers accurate, practical, and high-quality controls engineering for industrial and manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for control system design, programming, field support, troubleshooting, and cross-discipline coordination. EAD expects strong performance at every level: Staff Controls Engineer is expected to perform well in front of clients, work effectively in demanding on-site environments, and take ownership of their work. This role requires sound judgment in active industrial facilities where field conditions, client operations, and project timelines demand a composed, adaptable, and resourceful engineer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent combination of education, military service, training, and experience may also be considered.
• 7–10 years of controls engineering experience in industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Experience with PLC and/or DCS-based control system design, programming, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with HMI or SCADA programming and configuration.
• Experience performing field work including commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting in active industrial facilities.
• Experience working with multi-discipline project teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to interact effectively with clients, project teams, and field personnel.
• Ability to manage time, prioritize tasks, and deliver results within cost and schedule constraints.
• Acts with integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Owns commitments, follows through, and closes loops.
• Communicates early and clearly when risks, questions, or changes arise.
• Works in a way that helps the broader project team succeed.
• Brings a practical, solution-oriented mindset to complex fields and project challenges.
• Seeks to understand field conditions, client needs, and cross-discipline impacts before acting.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in food and beverage, life sciences, pharmaceutical, parcel, or other industrial manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms including ControlLogix and CompactLogix.
• CAP, CCST, PE, or similar relevant credentials, or commitment to pursuing one.
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA, UL, and ISA codes and standards.
• Experience supporting or leading controls input to proposals and cost estimates.
• Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Automation Professional (CAP), or similar relevant credentials.
• Established industry relationships and a demonstrated ability to build client trust, support repeat business, and contribute to growth are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and commission PLC and DCS-based control systems for industrial and manufacturing facilities.
• Develop and configure HMI and SCADA applications to meet client and project requirements.
• Perform field activities including existing-condition verification, construction support, system checkout, commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, process, and other project team members to ensure controls scope aligns with overall project design and intent.
• Prepare clear engineering deliverables including control system design documentation, specifications, instrument lists, and panel design input.
• Support proposals and estimates with technical input, hours estimates, and scope definition appropriate to level.
• Participate in and contribute to design reviews, quality checks, and lessons learned.
• Interface with clients, vendors, contractors, and construction teams professionally and effectively.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable codes and standards such as National Electrical Code (NEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and International Society of Automation (ISA).
• Communicate proactively with the project team and Discipline Lead regarding progress, issues, risks, and decisions.
• Contribute to a safe working environment and follow EAD safety standards and practices.
• Actively leads the controls engineering scope on assigned projects, including technical direction, schedule ownership, and client coordination.
• Leads controls input to proposals and estimates, including scope definition, hours forecasting, and risk identification.
• Mentors and supports less experienced engineers through technical guidance and project collaboration.
• Serves as a primary technical point of contact for clients, vendors, and project teams on controls matters.
• Leads design reviews and drives quality within the controls scope.

Benefits

• EAD will provide training, administrative/engineering controls, and personal protective equipment as necessary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior