Staff Controls Engineer - Northfield, MN

EAD Management Services•Northfield, MN

20d

About The Position

EAD is hiring a Staff Controls Engineer to deliver controls engineering for industrial and manufacturing facilities, including food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and parcel handling environments. The role leads controls engineering scopes across projects of varying size and complexity in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary setting. It encompasses control system design and programming, field support, troubleshooting, commissioning, and coordination with clients and other disciplines. The Staff Controls Engineer is expected to lead technical direction, schedule ownership, client coordination, design reviews, and quality within assigned controls scopes. The engineer also contributes to proposals and estimates, mentors less experienced engineers, and serves as a primary technical contact for clients, vendors, and project teams. Success requires practical, well-documented and buildable solutions; ownership of commitments; sound judgment in active industrial facilities; and professional, adaptable performance in demanding field environments. The position may be performed in office, plant, or client-site settings and includes travel, with significant periods of travel possible depending on project needs. Field work may involve active equipment, tight spaces, stairs or ladders, extreme conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. Occasional night-shift work and periodic weekend, holiday, or evening work may be required. EAD provides training, administrative and engineering controls, and personal protective equipment as necessary. EAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field; an equivalent combination of education, military service, training, and experience may 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 multidisciplinary project teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including effective interaction with clients, project teams, and field personnel.
Ability to manage time, prioritize tasks, and deliver results within cost and schedule constraints.
Ability to perform field and client-site work.
Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
Ability to climb numerous flights of stairs or ladders multiple times a day and/or work in tight spaces in extreme conditions.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
Ability to work near moving mechanical parts and equipment and in settings with potential exposure to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
Ability to travel as required, including periods of significant travel depending on project needs.
Maintain a valid driver's license.

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 demonstrated ability to build client trust, support repeat business, and contribute to growth.

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.
Lead controls engineering scopes on assigned projects, including technical direction, schedule ownership, and client coordination.
Lead controls input to proposals and estimates, including scope definition, hours forecasting, and risk identification.
Mentor and support less experienced engineers through technical guidance and project collaboration.
Serve as a primary technical point of contact for clients, vendors, and project teams on controls matters.
Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, process, and other project team members to align the controls scope with overall project design and intent.
Prepare engineering deliverables, including control system design documentation, specifications, instrument lists, and panel design input.
Participate in and contribute to design reviews, quality checks, and lessons learned; drive quality within the controls scope.
Interface professionally and effectively with clients, vendors, contractors, and construction teams.
Maintain knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including NEC, NFPA, UL, and ISA.
Communicate proactively with the project team and Discipline Lead about progress, issues, risks, and decisions.
Contribute to a safe working environment and follow EAD safety standards and practices.
Maintain a valid driver's license.
Follow through on commitments, communicate risks and changes early, and work to help the broader project team succeed.