Controls Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Controls Engineer jobs in Iowa are in strong and consistent demand, with the heaviest concentration in industrial manufacturing, food and beverage processing, and agricultural equipment production. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities corridor anchor most of the hiring, and established employers like John Deere, Rockwell Collins parent RTX, and Quaker Oats owner PepsiCo Foods keep steady openings for engineers at every level from early-career to senior process specialist. The most sought-after specialties in Iowa are PLC programming, SCADA systems integration, and process automation for high-volume production environments. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Controls Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 24+ Controls Engineer jobs
With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.
Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.
At Shearer’s Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.
Controls and Automation Engineer
- Execute in a safe manner. Embrace and help to develop a people safety first culture.
- Preform advanced troubleshooting functions by using the PLC and HMI code to diagnose issues that are causing downtime.
- Ownership of regular program backups and ensure that all program changes adhere to Shearer’s safety and quality standards.
- Ensure that all machines have up-to-date electrical prints.
- Develop and train maintenance personnel on control systems and functions.
- Continue to find ways to improve cycle times; reduce scrap and upgrade components for cost/performance improvement being sure to communicate these changes to the wider controls team and the Proactive Maintenance central function.
- Provide recommendations to engineering team for new equipment to avoid obsolescence and design issues in the future.
- Assist the corporate controls team in creating electrical and controls standards and implement them in each facility.
- Continually improve knowledge base regarding advances in parts, equipment and processes to keep abreast of changes and innovations in equipment selection.
- Active Safety Committee Participation
- Assist in the development of base line safe work performance expectations and work practices. Identify and correct any unsafe condition and identify and unsafe action observed. • Participates in RCA’s.
- Ability to make changes to existing PLC and HMI programs to improve the process.
- Perform the above duties in a food safe manner adhering to all GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices. Knowledge, skills, and abilities
- Full familiarity with computer programs such as Auto-Cad, Microsoft Office, etc.
- Full familiarity with Rockwell PLC software and can design, write and troubleshoot same.
- RS Logix 500
- RS Logix 5000
- Studio 5000
- Connected Components Workbench (CCW) o FactoryTalk View Studio
- Full familiarity with Rockwell hardware and can design, write and troubleshoot same.
- o SLC 500 o MicroLogix
- o CompactLogix
- o ControlLogix
- o Panelview
- o Power Flex
- Familiarity with high-speed manufacturing and packaging processes, operations and associated machinery.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical prints.
- ABB & Fanuc Robot programming (and others)
Minimum of associate's degree in technical field including Electrical Engineering
- Five years of industrial automation engineering.
- Food /Beverage Manufacturing experience preferred.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.
Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.
At Shearer’s Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.
Controls and Automation Engineer
- Execute in a safe manner. Embrace and help to develop a people safety first culture.
- Preform advanced troubleshooting functions by using the PLC and HMI code to diagnose issues that are causing downtime.
- Ownership of regular program backups and ensure that all program changes adhere to Shearer’s safety and quality standards.
- Ensure that all machines have up-to-date electrical prints.
- Develop and train maintenance personnel on control systems and functions.
- Continue to find ways to improve cycle times; reduce scrap and upgrade components for cost/performance improvement being sure to communicate these changes to the wider controls team and the Proactive Maintenance central function.
- Provide recommendations to engineering team for new equipment to avoid obsolescence and design issues in the future.
- Assist the corporate controls team in creating electrical and controls standards and implement them in each facility.
- Continually improve knowledge base regarding advances in parts, equipment and processes to keep abreast of changes and innovations in equipment selection.
- Active Safety Committee Participation
- Assist in the development of base line safe work performance expectations and work practices. Identify and correct any unsafe condition and identify and unsafe action observed. • Participates in RCA’s.
- Ability to make changes to existing PLC and HMI programs to improve the process.
- Perform the above duties in a food safe manner adhering to all GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices. Knowledge, skills, and abilities
- Full familiarity with computer programs such as Auto-Cad, Microsoft Office, etc.
- Full familiarity with Rockwell PLC software and can design, write and troubleshoot same.
- RS Logix 500
- RS Logix 5000
- Studio 5000
- Connected Components Workbench (CCW) o FactoryTalk View Studio
- Full familiarity with Rockwell hardware and can design, write and troubleshoot same.
- o SLC 500 o MicroLogix
- o CompactLogix
- o ControlLogix
- o Panelview
- o Power Flex
- Familiarity with high-speed manufacturing and packaging processes, operations and associated machinery.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical prints.
- ABB & Fanuc Robot programming (and others)
Minimum of associate's degree in technical field including Electrical Engineering
- Five years of industrial automation engineering.
- Food /Beverage Manufacturing experience preferred.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
See All 24 Controls Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Controls Engineer JobsControls Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Controls Engineer Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Food & Beverage
- Agriculture & Farming
- Electronics & Hardware
- Construction & Real Estate
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in controls engineer jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or controls engineering from an accredited institution
- Hands-on experience programming PLCs from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi platforms
- Proficiency with SCADA systems and HMI design for industrial or food processing environments
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, instrumentation diagrams, and control panel layouts
- Experience with process automation in manufacturing, food production, or agricultural equipment settings
- Familiarity with safety standards such as NFPA 70E and machine guarding requirements for Iowa facilities
Controls Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a controls engineer in Iowa?
The standard path into controls engineering in Iowa starts with a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or mechatronic engineering from an accredited program at institutions like Iowa State University or the University of Iowa. Iowa does not require a state-issued license specifically for controls engineers in private industry, though obtaining a Professional Engineer license through the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board strengthens candidacy for senior roles. Employers in food processing and industrial manufacturing prioritize PLC and SCADA hands-on experience alongside the degree.
How much do controls engineers make in Iowa?
Controls engineers in Iowa earn a median of about $97,690 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $72,380 for the lowest 10% to over $133,610 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire controls engineers in Iowa?
Employers hiring controls engineers in Iowa right now include Magna International, Sargent & Lundy, and ENGIE, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's deep base of food processing plants, agricultural equipment makers, and industrial automation integrators means openings appear across the state year-round rather than being concentrated in a single industry.
Which Iowa cities have the most controls engineer jobs?
Iowa City, Montezuma, and Cedar Rapids account for the largest share of controls engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines draws demand from corporate manufacturing headquarters and distribution infrastructure, Cedar Rapids is anchored by large food processing operations from companies like Quaker Oats and Ingredion, and the Quad Cities region benefits from John Deere's long-standing engineering and production footprint on both sides of the Iowa-Illinois border.
Are there remote controls engineer jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Controls engineering is fundamentally a hands-on discipline tied to physical equipment, control panels, and production floors, which limits fully remote work. About 56% of controls engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to involve system design, software configuration, or project engineering rather than commissioning or maintenance work that requires being on site.
How can I get hired as a controls engineer in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is an automation or electrical engineering technician role at one of Iowa's large food processing or manufacturing facilities, where hands-on PLC and panel work builds the practical skills employers value most. John Deere and several Iowa-based industrial integrators run structured co-op and new-graduate programs through partnerships with Iowa State University and Iowa community colleges. Candidates without direct controls experience often transition successfully from industrial maintenance technician or instrumentation technician roles. Completing a certification in a major PLC platform, such as a Rockwell Automation credential, gives entry-level applicants a measurable edge.
Where can I find and apply to controls engineer jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to controls engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search for roles that fit your experience level and target industry, then apply directly to the ones that match. No account or profile is required to view and apply to the listings available on the platform.
See All 24 Controls Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Controls Engineer Jobs