Senior Level Controls Engineer Jobs
Senior level controls engineer jobs place experienced engineers in ownership of complex automation systems, cross-functional project outcomes, and the technical direction of their teams. Roles are concentrated across Construction & Real Estate, Consulting & Professional Services, and Manufacturing, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote positions, and employers like DLR, Granite Construction, and Amazon hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 120+ Senior Level Controls Engineer jobs
Location: West Chester, PA (Hybrid)
Employment type: Full-time
ABOUT THE ROLE
Lead the controls engineering design scope for pharmaceutical and food & beverage facility projects. Own the technical quality and coordination of control-panel, industrial-network and electrical installation packages. Combine hands-on design with technical reviews, resolution of client and vendor interfaces, and mentoring of engineers through construction and commissioning support.
WHAT YOU WILL DELIVER
- Develop coordinated panel and field-installation packages, including equipment and panel layouts, schematics, wiring and termination details, cable lists, and I/O schedules.
- Design and document industrial-network topology and physical connections; coordinate instrument, panel and equipment interfaces with the installation package.
- Survey existing installations, document field conditions, and incorporate verified information into design and as-built documents.
- Coordinate with process, mechanical and electrical engineers, equipment vendors, panel fabricators and installation contractors; prepare specifications and bid-package information.
- Own the controls design basis and package completeness; review drawings, specifications and schedules for technical consistency and constructability, and mentor engineers through reviews.
- Provide PLC/HMI programming and project lifecycle support, including troubleshooting, testing, installation and commissioning, with design changes reflected in the final documents.
- Apply relevant project codes and standards, including NEC and UL 508A where applicable.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
- 8+ years of control-systems experience in manufacturing or consulting-design environments, including commissioning experience.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD for control-panel design and electrical construction packages.
- Experience with control-panel and industrial-network design, component and instrument selection, and coordination of drawings and schedules for fabrication and installation.
- Hands-on experience with Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000 and FactoryTalk View ME/SE for PLC, HMI and SCADA project work.
- Ability to survey existing systems, coordinate clients and vendors, and prepare design and bid packages. Coordinate single-line diagrams, panel schedules and power-plan interfaces with the electrical engineering team.
- Experience owning and reviewing coordinated controls packages, resolving design interfaces, and guiding other engineers.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience leading commissioning activities.
Hybrid work and project travel
This is an office-based hybrid role with remote work and project-site assignments. Office attendance is coordinated with the project team. Travel is anticipated to be 20–40%, depending on project requirements. Initial site visits typically last 1–3 days; commissioning assignments may last 1–4 weeks.
COMPENSATION
- The salary for this position is between $80,000-$130,000, contingent upon the candidate’s experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.
ABOUT LAPORTE
Founded in 1999, LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm serving pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and industrial manufacturing clients across North America and Europe. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, compensatory paid time off (PTO), a flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. Apply with your résumé. Relevant project examples can help us understand your contribution; please omit confidential client information. Send us your application today. We look forward to meeting you!
Location: West Chester, PA (Hybrid)
Employment type: Full-time
ABOUT THE ROLE
Lead the controls engineering design scope for pharmaceutical and food & beverage facility projects. Own the technical quality and coordination of control-panel, industrial-network and electrical installation packages. Combine hands-on design with technical reviews, resolution of client and vendor interfaces, and mentoring of engineers through construction and commissioning support.
WHAT YOU WILL DELIVER
- Develop coordinated panel and field-installation packages, including equipment and panel layouts, schematics, wiring and termination details, cable lists, and I/O schedules.
- Design and document industrial-network topology and physical connections; coordinate instrument, panel and equipment interfaces with the installation package.
- Survey existing installations, document field conditions, and incorporate verified information into design and as-built documents.
- Coordinate with process, mechanical and electrical engineers, equipment vendors, panel fabricators and installation contractors; prepare specifications and bid-package information.
- Own the controls design basis and package completeness; review drawings, specifications and schedules for technical consistency and constructability, and mentor engineers through reviews.
- Provide PLC/HMI programming and project lifecycle support, including troubleshooting, testing, installation and commissioning, with design changes reflected in the final documents.
- Apply relevant project codes and standards, including NEC and UL 508A where applicable.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
- 8+ years of control-systems experience in manufacturing or consulting-design environments, including commissioning experience.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD for control-panel design and electrical construction packages.
- Experience with control-panel and industrial-network design, component and instrument selection, and coordination of drawings and schedules for fabrication and installation.
- Hands-on experience with Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000 and FactoryTalk View ME/SE for PLC, HMI and SCADA project work.
- Ability to survey existing systems, coordinate clients and vendors, and prepare design and bid packages. Coordinate single-line diagrams, panel schedules and power-plan interfaces with the electrical engineering team.
- Experience owning and reviewing coordinated controls packages, resolving design interfaces, and guiding other engineers.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience leading commissioning activities.
Hybrid work and project travel
This is an office-based hybrid role with remote work and project-site assignments. Office attendance is coordinated with the project team. Travel is anticipated to be 20–40%, depending on project requirements. Initial site visits typically last 1–3 days; commissioning assignments may last 1–4 weeks.
COMPENSATION
- The salary for this position is between $80,000-$130,000, contingent upon the candidate’s experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.
ABOUT LAPORTE
Founded in 1999, LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm serving pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and industrial manufacturing clients across North America and Europe. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, compensatory paid time off (PTO), a flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. Apply with your résumé. Relevant project examples can help us understand your contribution; please omit confidential client information. Send us your application today. We look forward to meeting you!
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Find JobsSenior Level Controls Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- DLR19
- Granite Construction7
- Amazon5
- E Tech5
- Burns & McDonnell5
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate30
- Consulting & Professional Services28
- Manufacturing13
- Technology & Software8
- Energy7
Senior Level Controls Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level controls engineer job?
Employers at this level look for engineers who have owned full project lifecycles, not just contributed to them. Demonstrating hands-on experience with industrial control systems, PLC or DCS programming, and system commissioning gives you a strong foundation. What sets candidates apart is the ability to lead technical decisions, mentor junior engineers, and communicate clearly with cross-functional stakeholders and project management.
Which companies hire senior level controls engineers?
Companies hiring senior level controls engineers right now include DLR, Granite Construction, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a mix of large industrial manufacturers, engineering and automation consultancies, and capital-intensive operators in energy, utilities, and process industries.
Are there remote senior level controls engineer jobs?
Yes, though most roles still require on-site presence for commissioning and system integration work. About 15% of senior level controls engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote opportunities more common in roles focused on engineering design, specification, and project oversight than in hands-on field work.
What makes a controls engineer role senior level?
Senior level controls engineer roles are defined by scope and accountability. Engineers at this level own system architecture decisions, lead integration efforts across multiple platforms or sites, and serve as the primary technical authority on projects. Mentoring less experienced engineers and collaborating with project managers, procurement, and operations teams is a standard expectation, not an occasional responsibility.
Which industries hire the most senior level controls engineers?
Senior Level controls engineer roles concentrate in Construction & Real Estate, Consulting & Professional Services, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand because they rely on complex, continuous, or safety-critical automated processes where experienced engineers are needed to design, validate, and maintain control systems at scale.