Controls Engineer Jobs in Memphis, TN
Controls Engineer jobs in Memphis are concentrated in the industrial corridors along the Shelby County perimeter, the Frayser manufacturing belt, and the Memphis Regional Megasite area, with demand driven by food and beverage processing, logistics automation, and heavy manufacturing. Employers hiring right now include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, LAPORTE, and SpaceXAI. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 81+ Controls Engineer jobs
SpaceXAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
Join the power generation engineering team to design, commission, and maintain plant control systems. As a Controls Engineer, you will own BOP PLC/HMI and the control-room SCADA picture that brings generation and balance-of-plant into one operating view — Solar, 6000, and BOP on a single set of screens. You will work from control philosophy through commissioning and ongoing reliability, hands-on at the panel and in the control room. The position is based in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other sites.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own BOP PLC and HMI design, programming, and commissioning for power generation balance-of-plant systems (fuel gas, water, compressed/instrument air, HVAC, cooling, electrical auxiliaries, and related process/utility systems)
- Design and maintain the plant SCADA architecture so operators have one operating picture in the control room integrating Solar, 6000, and BOP — graphics, alarms, historian, and situational awareness on a single platform
- Develop control philosophy, control narratives, I/O lists, network drawings, cause-and-effect diagrams, and HMI/SCADA standards for reuse across the facility
- Specify PLC, HMI, SCADA, remote I/O, industrial networking, and interface hardware; define data exchange with OEM turbine/generation controllers (Solar and 6000) and with electrical protection, metering, and plant systems
- Program, test, and troubleshoot PLC logic and HMI applications (IEC 61131 — ladder, function block, structured text as applicable)
- Integrate OEM packages and third-party systems into plant SCADA using industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, IEC 61850, and others as required) so Solar, 6000, and BOP operate as one system
- Commission controls: I/O checkout, loop checks, functional testing, HMI validation, alarm rationalization, and start-up support; stay hands-on with technicians and operators
- Support day-to-day operations: troubleshooting, sequence issues, bad actors, and control changes under MOPs/MOC
- Maintain configuration management for PLC/HMI/SCADA programs, as-left files, firmware, and network documentation
- Coordinate with electrical, mechanical, fluids, protection, and operations so controls scope is fully integrated through construction, commissioning, and turnover
- Apply relevant standards for industrial control systems and electrical work (NFPA 70 / 70E, IEC 61131, and site cybersecurity/ICS practices such as NERC CIP where applicable)
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, computer engineering, or another engineering discipline
- 3+ years of experience in PLC, HMI, and/or SCADA engineering (design, programming, or commissioning) on industrial or power generation systems
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years in a controls role at a power plant, independent power producer, OEM, EPC, or heavy industrial facility
- Hands-on BOP PLC/HMI experience on gas turbine or similar generation projects
- Experience building a unified control-room SCADA/HMI that aggregates multiple OEM controllers (e.g. Solar, 6000, or equivalent turbine packages) with plant BOP
- Familiarity with major platforms (e.g. Ignition, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson, GE, SEL) and industrial networking (IT/OT)
- Experience with IEC 61131 programming and protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, and IEC 61850
- Experience across the project lifecycle: design, programming, construction support, commissioning, and operations
- Experience with alarm management, historian, and control-room graphics that operators actually use
- Working knowledge of how BOP controls interface with electrical power systems (switchgear, protection, metering) without owning relay settings
- Experience managing OEM and contractor interfaces on multi-discipline power or capital projects
- Professional Engineering license, or actively working toward one
- Ability to support technicians in the field and to remain effective during outages, start-up, and event investigations
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness to perform hands-on work in the plant and control room, including during outages and commissioning
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support power generation operations
- Must be able to work on-site in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other SpaceX facilities
SpaceXAI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
SpaceXAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
Join the power generation engineering team to design, commission, and maintain plant control systems. As a Controls Engineer, you will own BOP PLC/HMI and the control-room SCADA picture that brings generation and balance-of-plant into one operating view — Solar, 6000, and BOP on a single set of screens. You will work from control philosophy through commissioning and ongoing reliability, hands-on at the panel and in the control room. The position is based in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other sites.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own BOP PLC and HMI design, programming, and commissioning for power generation balance-of-plant systems (fuel gas, water, compressed/instrument air, HVAC, cooling, electrical auxiliaries, and related process/utility systems)
- Design and maintain the plant SCADA architecture so operators have one operating picture in the control room integrating Solar, 6000, and BOP — graphics, alarms, historian, and situational awareness on a single platform
- Develop control philosophy, control narratives, I/O lists, network drawings, cause-and-effect diagrams, and HMI/SCADA standards for reuse across the facility
- Specify PLC, HMI, SCADA, remote I/O, industrial networking, and interface hardware; define data exchange with OEM turbine/generation controllers (Solar and 6000) and with electrical protection, metering, and plant systems
- Program, test, and troubleshoot PLC logic and HMI applications (IEC 61131 — ladder, function block, structured text as applicable)
- Integrate OEM packages and third-party systems into plant SCADA using industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, IEC 61850, and others as required) so Solar, 6000, and BOP operate as one system
- Commission controls: I/O checkout, loop checks, functional testing, HMI validation, alarm rationalization, and start-up support; stay hands-on with technicians and operators
- Support day-to-day operations: troubleshooting, sequence issues, bad actors, and control changes under MOPs/MOC
- Maintain configuration management for PLC/HMI/SCADA programs, as-left files, firmware, and network documentation
- Coordinate with electrical, mechanical, fluids, protection, and operations so controls scope is fully integrated through construction, commissioning, and turnover
- Apply relevant standards for industrial control systems and electrical work (NFPA 70 / 70E, IEC 61131, and site cybersecurity/ICS practices such as NERC CIP where applicable)
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, computer engineering, or another engineering discipline
- 3+ years of experience in PLC, HMI, and/or SCADA engineering (design, programming, or commissioning) on industrial or power generation systems
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years in a controls role at a power plant, independent power producer, OEM, EPC, or heavy industrial facility
- Hands-on BOP PLC/HMI experience on gas turbine or similar generation projects
- Experience building a unified control-room SCADA/HMI that aggregates multiple OEM controllers (e.g. Solar, 6000, or equivalent turbine packages) with plant BOP
- Familiarity with major platforms (e.g. Ignition, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson, GE, SEL) and industrial networking (IT/OT)
- Experience with IEC 61131 programming and protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, and IEC 61850
- Experience across the project lifecycle: design, programming, construction support, commissioning, and operations
- Experience with alarm management, historian, and control-room graphics that operators actually use
- Working knowledge of how BOP controls interface with electrical power systems (switchgear, protection, metering) without owning relay settings
- Experience managing OEM and contractor interfaces on multi-discipline power or capital projects
- Professional Engineering license, or actively working toward one
- Ability to support technicians in the field and to remain effective during outages, start-up, and event investigations
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness to perform hands-on work in the plant and control room, including during outages and commissioning
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support power generation operations
- Must be able to work on-site in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other SpaceX facilities
SpaceXAI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
See All 81 Controls Engineer Jobs in Memphis
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Find Controls Engineer JobsControls Engineer Job Market in Memphis
Who's Hiring
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital24
- LAPORTE16
- SpaceXAI16
- SOUTHERN SYNERGY8S
- Barnhart Crane & Rigging8
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
Controls Engineer Jobs in Memphis: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a controls engineer job in Memphis?
Focus your search on Memphis's food and beverage processing plants, distribution center automation projects, and heavy manufacturing facilities concentrated in Frayser, Shelby County's industrial parks, and the Megasite corridor. Candidates with PLC programming experience on Allen-Bradley or Siemens platforms and hands-on familiarity with SCADA systems have a clear edge here. Networking through local manufacturing associations and targeting plant-level engineering teams directly tends to produce faster results than broad national job board searches.
Which companies hire controls engineers in Memphis?
Companies currently hiring controls engineers in Memphis include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, LAPORTE, and SpaceXAI, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Memphis's employer base skews toward large-scale food processing operations, logistics automation integrators, and contract manufacturing firms with ongoing capital improvement projects that require dedicated controls support.
Are there remote controls engineer jobs in Memphis?
Yes, but only partially. Controls engineering is largely hands-on work requiring physical access to equipment, so fully remote roles are uncommon. About 14% of controls engineer openings tied to Memphis are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, typically covering design, programming, and documentation phases. The commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting portions of most Memphis roles remain on-site at the plant or facility.
How can I get a controls engineer job in Memphis with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Memphis is through automation technician or maintenance electrician roles at one of the city's large food processing or distribution facilities, where hands-on PLC exposure builds quickly. Local contract engineering firms and system integrators serving the Memphis industrial market frequently hire junior controls staff for project support. Completing coursework or certifications in Rockwell Automation or Siemens platforms strengthens an entry-level application significantly in this market.
Which industries hire the most controls engineers in Memphis?
Most controls engineer openings in Memphis sit in Healthcare & Medical Services and Consulting & Professional Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Memphis's position as a major distribution and food production hub means ongoing demand for automation upgrades, line expansions, and facility retrofits that keep controls engineers consistently employed across those sectors.
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See All 81 Controls Engineer Jobs in Memphis
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