Controls Engineer Jobs at Eaton with Visa Sponsorship
Controls Engineer jobs at Eaton sit at the intersection of electrical systems, automation, and industrial manufacturing. Eaton has a consistent track record of sponsoring work visas for this function, making it a realistic target for international engineers looking to build a long-term career in U.S. power management and manufacturing.
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We're hiring a Switchboard Controls Engineer in Sumter, SC to design, program, test, and support automated control systems and power management systems used in critical switchboard applications.
Our Power Systems Controls (PSC) group is a full-service integrator of the necessary systems, equipment, and technologies to provide complete power systems solutions. This team of talented engineers and technicians provides single point responsibility and seamless integration, transcending all major manufacturers of PLCs, HMIs, protective relays, and power distribution controls related components.
The expected annual salary range for this role is $59000 - $86000 a year.
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
What you’ll do:
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Develop a variety of complex drawings and bills-of-material based upon established switchboard designs, which provides sufficient detail to accurately convey the purchaser’s equipment application.
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Consult with plant and field sales engineers in interpreting and defining new equipment applications. Follow customers and internal specifications for project implementation.
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Provide sketches, mark-ups, and directions to Electrical Designers to develop project drawings.
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Select components and create bill of materials.
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Create, modify, test, and deploy software for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), Automatic Transfer Controllers (ATC-900, DTSC-200A), and Human Machine Interfaces (Visual Designer and Galileo based) for Automatic Power Transfer applications (Main-Tie-Main, Main-Gen, etc.).
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Prepare customer submittals, Sequence of Operation (SOO), and test procedures.
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Perform factory testing & debugging of switchboard control systems, including troubleshooting wiring and safety circuits.
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Support field start-ups if required.
Qualifications
Required (Basic) Qualifications:
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2-year technical degree or similar experience in military training
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Minimum 1 year of controls experience in power distribution applications or 2 years of controls experience in other applications.
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No relocation benefit is being offered for this position. Only candidates within a 50-mile radius of Columbia, SC or Sumter, SC will be considered. Active-Duty Military Service member candidates are exempt from the geographical area limitation.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution
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Knowledge of power distribution (Switchgears and Switchboards) and control systems.
Skills:
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Successfully complete and maintain compliance with Eaton’s safety program and policy; This includes role-applicable portions of the EESS Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) program and any required annual re-certifications thereafter.
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Knowledge and understanding of best engineering practices for design of automation systems, power management systems, human-machine interface software, PLC programming, etc.
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Working knowledge of test equipment and diagnostic instruments for automation and power management systems.
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Knowledge of troubleshooting, test and repair techniques.
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Computer literacy. Working knowledge of all software packages relevant to successful performance of tasks.
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Knowledge of parts, part masters, bill of materials.
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Knowledge and practice of safety precautions related to working with automation and power management systems.
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Has demonstrated ability to provide service and represent company interests in developing customer relationships to assure long-term customer satisfaction.
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Excellent interpersonal and communication/presentation skills.
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Experience with HMI (Human Machine Interface) software and power monitoring software packages.
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.
We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.
You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.
We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Controls Engineer Jobs at Eaton
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires H-1B approval to hinge on the role qualifying as a specialty occupation. For Controls Engineers at Eaton, a degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, or mechatronics strengthens that case far more than a general engineering degree.
Target Eaton's power management and electrical divisions first
Eaton's Electrical Sector and Vehicle Group post Controls Engineer roles most frequently. Filtering your search to these business units surfaces positions more likely to have dedicated engineering headcount and active sponsorship approval processes.
Clarify OPT and CPT eligibility before your final semester
Eaton does hire F-1 students through CPT and OPT, but co-op and internship timelines need to align with your program's academic calendar. Confirm your DSO has authorized the work period before accepting an offer to avoid status gaps.
Ask directly about the LCA filing timeline during offer negotiations
Eaton must file a certified Labor Condition Application with the DOL before submitting your H-1B petition. Knowing when your team plans to initiate that filing tells you whether your start date is realistic given standard DOL processing windows.
Use Migrate Mate to filter open Controls Engineer roles at Eaton by visa type
Sorting by the visa categories Eaton sponsors lets you focus only on positions where sponsorship is already part of the hiring process, saving time you'd otherwise spend cold-applying and waiting for sponsorship conversations that never happen.
Prepare a TN visa option if you hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship
Controls Engineering falls under eligible TN occupation categories for Canadian and Mexican nationals. Unlike H-1B, there is no lottery and no annual cap, so Eaton can process your status at the port of entry once your offer letter and credentials are in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Eaton sponsor H-1B visas for Controls Engineers?
Yes, Eaton sponsors H-1B visas for Controls Engineers. The company operates as a large manufacturing employer with established HR infrastructure for immigration filings. Because H-1B cap-subject petitions require lottery selection in April, your start date will depend on when your employer submits the registration and whether you clear the lottery. Premium processing is available to expedite USCIS adjudication once selected.
How do I apply for Controls Engineer jobs at Eaton?
Applications go through Eaton's careers portal at the job posting level. You'll want to tailor your resume to highlight PLC programming, HMI development, or power system controls experience specific to the business unit you're targeting. Migrate Mate lists open Controls Engineer roles at Eaton filtered by visa sponsorship type, so you can identify the right positions before applying directly through Eaton's site.
Which visa types does Eaton commonly use for Controls Engineers?
Eaton sponsors H-1B visas as the primary work visa for Controls Engineers, along with TN visa status for Canadian and Mexican nationals. F-1 students can enter through CPT during school or OPT after graduation. For longer-term permanent residence, Eaton supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card pathways, which typically involve PERM labor certification filed through the DOL before the immigrant petition stage.
What qualifications does Eaton expect for Controls Engineer roles?
Most Controls Engineer postings at Eaton require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field. Hands-on experience with PLCs, such as Allen-Bradley or Siemens platforms, and familiarity with industrial automation standards are consistently listed. Roles in Eaton's Electrical Sector may also require knowledge of power distribution systems or low-voltage switchgear, depending on the product line the team supports.
How long does the sponsorship process typically take for a Controls Engineer at Eaton?
For H-1B, the process spans several months from registration to start date. Eaton files the LCA with the DOL, which takes up to seven business days, followed by the H-1B petition to USCIS. Standard adjudication runs three to six months. Premium processing cuts USCIS review to 15 business days. TN and OPT-to-H-1B transitions follow different timelines, so clarify your specific situation with Eaton's HR team early in the offer stage.