Controls Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Controls engineer jobs in North Carolina are consistently active, with strong demand across the state's manufacturing, life sciences, and industrial automation sectors at every level from entry-level technician to senior systems engineer. Charlotte, Raleigh, and the Triad region around Greensboro and Winston-Salem are the primary hiring centers, home to established employers like Honeywell, ABB, and Siemens Energy that maintain large engineering operations in the state. The most sought-after specialties include PLC programming, SCADA systems, and process control for pharmaceutical and food and beverage production. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About A&E
Automation & Electronics USA Ltd. provides industrial automation and control solutions, primarily serving the sawmill and wood-products industry. Based in Arden, North Carolina, we design, build, program, install, commission, and support custom control systems and automation equipment for customers throughout North America.
Why Join Us
Project ownership and variety: Have the autonomy to manage your assigned projects and make technical decisions within your responsibilities, from design and programming through commissioning and troubleshooting.
A close working team: Join a small, collaborative team with an informal, hands-on culture. Work directly with colleagues, share ideas, and help each other solve problems.
Broader technical experience: Work with customers and engineering teams in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
Benefits: Paid time off (PTO), sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan.
What You Will Do
Design, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI systems; integrate drives, sensors, instrumentation, and industrial networks.
Develop and maintain electrical drawings, schematics, technical documentation, program revisions, and backups.
Perform onsite startup, commissioning, optimization, and troubleshooting; provide remote support and customer training.
Coordinate project schedules, equipment procurement, and control-panel builds with customers, vendors, panel builders, and internal teams.
Support project scoping, proposals, and system improvements while following electrical codes, lockout/tagout procedures, and site safety requirements.
Qualifications
Experience designing, programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting industrial controls, including PLC and HMI systems. Allen-Bradley PLC and Rockwell Automation software experience strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of electrical systems, control panels, schematics, instrumentation, motor controls, and industrial networking and communications.
Strong independent troubleshooting, communication, organization, and project coordination skills; ability to manage changing priorities and work collaboratively.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a closely related discipline preferred. Equivalent advanced technical education and engineering experience may be considered.
Valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive for company business; valid passport or ability to obtain and maintain one.
Travel and Schedule
Approximately 30-40% domestic and international travel, including overnight or multi-week assignments. Participation in after-hours technical support is required as business needs arise, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Additional or irregular hours may be needed for commissioning, deadlines, and urgent customer support.
Physical Requirements
Work in office, shop, manufacturing, and customer-site environments. Duties involve sitting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs, and using tools and electrical test equipment around industrial machinery with required protective equipment. Customer-site work may require extended standing or walking. Occasionally lift or move up to 60 pounds using safe techniques or assistance when needed. Travel by automobile and commercial air is required.
If you enjoy practical engineering, taking ownership of your work, and being part of a small team that works well together, we would like to hear from you.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Automation & Electronics USA Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.
For a complete overview of the role, responsibilities, and requirements, view the full Controls Engineer job description here.
About A&E
Automation & Electronics USA Ltd. provides industrial automation and control solutions, primarily serving the sawmill and wood-products industry. Based in Arden, North Carolina, we design, build, program, install, commission, and support custom control systems and automation equipment for customers throughout North America.
Why Join Us
Project ownership and variety: Have the autonomy to manage your assigned projects and make technical decisions within your responsibilities, from design and programming through commissioning and troubleshooting.
A close working team: Join a small, collaborative team with an informal, hands-on culture. Work directly with colleagues, share ideas, and help each other solve problems.
Broader technical experience: Work with customers and engineering teams in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
Benefits: Paid time off (PTO), sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan.
What You Will Do
Design, program, test, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI systems; integrate drives, sensors, instrumentation, and industrial networks.
Develop and maintain electrical drawings, schematics, technical documentation, program revisions, and backups.
Perform onsite startup, commissioning, optimization, and troubleshooting; provide remote support and customer training.
Coordinate project schedules, equipment procurement, and control-panel builds with customers, vendors, panel builders, and internal teams.
Support project scoping, proposals, and system improvements while following electrical codes, lockout/tagout procedures, and site safety requirements.
Qualifications
Experience designing, programming, commissioning, and troubleshooting industrial controls, including PLC and HMI systems. Allen-Bradley PLC and Rockwell Automation software experience strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of electrical systems, control panels, schematics, instrumentation, motor controls, and industrial networking and communications.
Strong independent troubleshooting, communication, organization, and project coordination skills; ability to manage changing priorities and work collaboratively.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a closely related discipline preferred. Equivalent advanced technical education and engineering experience may be considered.
Valid driver’s license and eligibility to drive for company business; valid passport or ability to obtain and maintain one.
Travel and Schedule
Approximately 30-40% domestic and international travel, including overnight or multi-week assignments. Participation in after-hours technical support is required as business needs arise, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Additional or irregular hours may be needed for commissioning, deadlines, and urgent customer support.
Physical Requirements
Work in office, shop, manufacturing, and customer-site environments. Duties involve sitting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs, and using tools and electrical test equipment around industrial machinery with required protective equipment. Customer-site work may require extended standing or walking. Occasionally lift or move up to 60 pounds using safe techniques or assistance when needed. Travel by automobile and commercial air is required.
If you enjoy practical engineering, taking ownership of your work, and being part of a small team that works well together, we would like to hear from you.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Automation & Electronics USA Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.
For a complete overview of the role, responsibilities, and requirements, view the full Controls Engineer job description here.
See All 86 Controls Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Controls Engineer JobsControls Engineer Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Controls Engineer Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Corning11
- Applied Industrial Technologies4
- LAPORTE3
- Auria Solutions3
- Sargent & Lundy3
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Chemicals & Materials
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in controls engineer jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Hands-on experience programming PLCs using Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi platforms
- Proficiency with SCADA and HMI systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, or WinCC
- Familiarity with industrial networking protocols including EtherNet/IP, Profibus, and Modbus
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, loop drawings, and P&ID diagrams
- Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments such as pharma, biotech, or food production
Controls Engineer Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a controls engineer in North Carolina?
Most controls engineers in North Carolina enter the field with a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or mechatronics engineering from a North Carolina institution such as NC State, UNC Charlotte, or NC A&T. While no state-specific license is required to work as a controls engineer, candidates who pursue a Professional Engineer (PE) license through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors gain a clear advantage in senior or consulting roles. Employers also value hands-on PLC and SCADA certifications from vendors like Rockwell or Siemens.
How much do controls engineers make in North Carolina?
Controls engineers in North Carolina earn a median of about $99,310 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,930 for the lowest 10% to over $139,110 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire controls engineers in North Carolina?
Employers hiring controls engineers in North Carolina right now include Corning, Applied Industrial Technologies, and LAPORTE, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. North Carolina's concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturers, industrial automation integrators, and large energy companies makes it one of the more consistent states for controls engineering demand year-round.
Which North Carolina cities have the most controls engineer jobs?
Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington account for the highest concentration of controls engineer openings in North Carolina. Charlotte drives volume through its manufacturing and energy infrastructure, Raleigh benefits from the Research Triangle's life sciences and advanced manufacturing corridor, and the Greensboro and Winston-Salem area draws openings from legacy industrial and food production employers that have anchored the Piedmont Triad for decades.
Are there remote controls engineer jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're rare. Controls engineering is fundamentally a hands-on, site-based discipline, so most roles require regular presence on a production floor or at a client facility. About 33% of controls engineer openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to be project management, systems architecture, or pre-sales engineering positions rather than day-to-day commissioning or maintenance roles.
How can I get hired as a controls engineer in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an automation or electrical engineering technician role at one of North Carolina's large manufacturing employers, where you gain PLC and instrumentation exposure before stepping into a full controls engineer title. Companies like Honeywell and ABB in the Charlotte area run co-op and new-grad programs through NC State and NC A&T pipelines. A Rockwell Automation or Siemens PLC certification, combined with a senior capstone project involving industrial controls, gives candidates without work experience a concrete credential to show hiring managers.
Where can I find and apply to controls engineer jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to controls engineer jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly from the listing.
See All 86 Controls Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
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