Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Electrical controls engineer jobs in Minnesota concentrate in manufacturing, food and beverage processing, medical device production, and industrial automation, with demand at every level from entry-level PLC programmer to senior systems integrator. The Twin Cities metro leads hiring, followed by Rochester and St. Cloud, where companies like 3M, Eaton, and General Mills maintain substantial engineering operations and regularly recruit controls talent. The most sought-after specialties in Minnesota are PLC and HMI programming, motion control, and functional safety engineering. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Electrical Controls Engineer jobs
LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems is a global leader in transdermal and oral thin‑film drug delivery technologies. Our teams have pioneered breakthroughs such as the first contraceptive patch, nicotine patch, oral active ingredient film, and Parkinson’s patch. When you join LTS, you become part of a team that continues to shape the future of patient care and bring life‑changing therapies to market.
At LTS, our purpose drives everything we do: We CARE. We CREATE. We DELIVER. We’re committed to fostering an employee experience that reflects our innovation — supportive, collaborative, and empowering. Across our New Jersey and Minnesota locations, you’ll work alongside knowledgeable experts on diverse projects in an environment where every day is different and your contributions truly matter
Electrical/Controls Engineer- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Position Overview
LTS is seeking an experienced Electrical/Controls Engineer to design, improve, and sustain automated manufacturing and packaging systems in a highly regulated environment. In this hands-on role, you’ll combine controls design and troubleshooting with equipment start-up, qualification support, and cross-functional collaboration to improve safety, reliability, quality, and performance.
Location: West St. Paul, Minnesota
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Work setting: On-site manufacturing and office environment
What You’ll Do
- Design, develop, troubleshoot, and maintain control systems for pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging, converting, inspection, and material-handling equipment.
- Program and support PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, motion controllers, VFDs, safety PLCs, machine vision systems, sensors, barcode and serialization interfaces, and industrial networks.
- Support equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, start-up, and ongoing commercial production and R&D operations.
- Partner with Process Engineering, Automation, Maintenance, Quality, Validation, Operations, IT/OT, and vendors to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable equipment performance.
- Develop and review automation requirements and documentation, including URS, functional and design specifications, I/O lists, control narratives, alarm matrices, sequences of operation, and change controls.
- Review vendor proposals, electrical schematics, panel layouts, technical drawings, FAT/SAT protocols, and software design documentation.
- Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, IQ/OQ/PQ, revalidation, and change-control activities for new equipment, line upgrades, and automation improvements.
- Diagnose machine faults, process deviations, vision and registration issues, sensor and network failures, electrical-control problems, and data-collection issues.
- Create and maintain controlled documentation, including SOPs, troubleshooting guides, training materials, preventive-maintenance support documents, and validation deliverables.
- Drive improvements in uptime, throughput, yield, quality, changeover efficiency, operator usability, and cost performance.
- Support equipment-data integration with manufacturing systems, historians, recipe management, and audit-trail and data-integrity requirements.
- Provide technical guidance and hands-on training to Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- At least 3 years of controls, automation, or electrical engineering experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, food, converting, packaging, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
- Hands-on experience with PLC/HMI platforms, industrial sensors, servo and motion control, VFDs, machine vision, electrical schematics, and industrial communication networks.
- Working knowledge of cGMP expectations, validation lifecycle documentation, change control, data integrity, and equipment qualification.
- Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, technical writing, communication, project execution, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to support shop-floor execution while maintaining strong documentation discipline and compliance.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, Omron, Keyence, Cognex, Delta ModTech, Serpa/MGS, or comparable automation and machine platforms.
- Experience with vision inspection, registration control, web handling, converting, packaging automation, robotic handling, serialization, or recipe-controlled equipment.
- Knowledge of GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11 concepts, audit trails, backup and restore practices, and validated software change control.
- Ability to lead vendor technical discussions and translate production needs into robust automation requirements.
- Project management experience with capital projects, line upgrades, controls-obsolescence remediation, or continuous-improvement workstreams.
Work Environment
- Work in office, laboratory, production, and equipment-build areas while following GMP, safety, gowning, and site procedures.
- Review electrical panels, machine guarding, HMI screens, sensors, controls cabinets, and production equipment in manufacturing areas.
- Provide occasional off-hours support for troubleshooting, equipment start-up, FAT/SAT execution, or production needs.
- Business-casual dress is standard; required PPE must be worn in manufacturing areas.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Bring your controls expertise to a collaborative team developing and sustaining technologies that can improve patient care. Apply today to join LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems in West St. Paul, Minnesota.
Equal Employment Opportunity
LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems is a global leader in transdermal and oral thin‑film drug delivery technologies. Our teams have pioneered breakthroughs such as the first contraceptive patch, nicotine patch, oral active ingredient film, and Parkinson’s patch. When you join LTS, you become part of a team that continues to shape the future of patient care and bring life‑changing therapies to market.
At LTS, our purpose drives everything we do: We CARE. We CREATE. We DELIVER. We’re committed to fostering an employee experience that reflects our innovation — supportive, collaborative, and empowering. Across our New Jersey and Minnesota locations, you’ll work alongside knowledgeable experts on diverse projects in an environment where every day is different and your contributions truly matter
Electrical/Controls Engineer- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Position Overview
LTS is seeking an experienced Electrical/Controls Engineer to design, improve, and sustain automated manufacturing and packaging systems in a highly regulated environment. In this hands-on role, you’ll combine controls design and troubleshooting with equipment start-up, qualification support, and cross-functional collaboration to improve safety, reliability, quality, and performance.
Location: West St. Paul, Minnesota
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Work setting: On-site manufacturing and office environment
What You’ll Do
- Design, develop, troubleshoot, and maintain control systems for pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging, converting, inspection, and material-handling equipment.
- Program and support PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, motion controllers, VFDs, safety PLCs, machine vision systems, sensors, barcode and serialization interfaces, and industrial networks.
- Support equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, start-up, and ongoing commercial production and R&D operations.
- Partner with Process Engineering, Automation, Maintenance, Quality, Validation, Operations, IT/OT, and vendors to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable equipment performance.
- Develop and review automation requirements and documentation, including URS, functional and design specifications, I/O lists, control narratives, alarm matrices, sequences of operation, and change controls.
- Review vendor proposals, electrical schematics, panel layouts, technical drawings, FAT/SAT protocols, and software design documentation.
- Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, IQ/OQ/PQ, revalidation, and change-control activities for new equipment, line upgrades, and automation improvements.
- Diagnose machine faults, process deviations, vision and registration issues, sensor and network failures, electrical-control problems, and data-collection issues.
- Create and maintain controlled documentation, including SOPs, troubleshooting guides, training materials, preventive-maintenance support documents, and validation deliverables.
- Drive improvements in uptime, throughput, yield, quality, changeover efficiency, operator usability, and cost performance.
- Support equipment-data integration with manufacturing systems, historians, recipe management, and audit-trail and data-integrity requirements.
- Provide technical guidance and hands-on training to Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- At least 3 years of controls, automation, or electrical engineering experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, food, converting, packaging, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
- Hands-on experience with PLC/HMI platforms, industrial sensors, servo and motion control, VFDs, machine vision, electrical schematics, and industrial communication networks.
- Working knowledge of cGMP expectations, validation lifecycle documentation, change control, data integrity, and equipment qualification.
- Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, technical writing, communication, project execution, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to support shop-floor execution while maintaining strong documentation discipline and compliance.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, Omron, Keyence, Cognex, Delta ModTech, Serpa/MGS, or comparable automation and machine platforms.
- Experience with vision inspection, registration control, web handling, converting, packaging automation, robotic handling, serialization, or recipe-controlled equipment.
- Knowledge of GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11 concepts, audit trails, backup and restore practices, and validated software change control.
- Ability to lead vendor technical discussions and translate production needs into robust automation requirements.
- Project management experience with capital projects, line upgrades, controls-obsolescence remediation, or continuous-improvement workstreams.
Work Environment
- Work in office, laboratory, production, and equipment-build areas while following GMP, safety, gowning, and site procedures.
- Review electrical panels, machine guarding, HMI screens, sensors, controls cabinets, and production equipment in manufacturing areas.
- Provide occasional off-hours support for troubleshooting, equipment start-up, FAT/SAT execution, or production needs.
- Business-casual dress is standard; required PPE must be worn in manufacturing areas.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Bring your controls expertise to a collaborative team developing and sustaining technologies that can improve patient care. Apply today to join LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems in West St. Paul, Minnesota.
Equal Employment Opportunity
LTS Lohmann Therapy Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
See All 15 Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
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Find JobsElectrical Controls Engineer Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Electrical Controls Engineer Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in electrical controls engineer jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electrical technology, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience programming PLCs such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi platforms
- Proficiency designing and interpreting electrical schematics and control panel drawings
- Experience with HMI development, SCADA systems, and industrial network protocols like Ethernet/IP
- Familiarity with NEC standards, UL 508A panel shop practices, and industrial safety requirements
- Strong troubleshooting skills for automated production lines, drives, and motion control systems
Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a electrical controls engineer in Minnesota?
Most employers in Minnesota require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or electrical technology as the baseline qualification. Minnesota does not mandate a state-issued professional engineer license for controls roles in private industry, though earning a PE through the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design strengthens advancement prospects. Candidates who build hands-on PLC programming skills and pursue certifications from organizations like PMMI or ISA gain a measurable edge in Minnesota's manufacturing-heavy job market.
How much do electrical controls engineers make in Minnesota?
Electrical controls engineers in Minnesota earn a median of about $109,510 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,750 for the lowest 10% to over $167,030 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire electrical controls engineers in Minnesota?
Employers hiring electrical controls engineers in Minnesota right now include General Mills, Uni-Systems Engineering, and HDR, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Minnesota's dense concentration of food processing, medical device, and industrial equipment manufacturers means controls engineers are in demand across a broad range of company sizes, from global headquarters like 3M and Eaton to regional machine builders and system integrators.
Which Minnesota cities have the most electrical controls engineer jobs?
The cities with the most electrical controls engineer openings in Minnesota are Minneapolis, Eagan, and Edina. The Twin Cities metro drives the largest share of demand because it anchors the state's medical device corridor, major food and beverage plants, and industrial automation firms, while Rochester and St. Cloud attract openings through large manufacturing campuses and the supply chain networks that surround them.
Are there remote electrical controls engineer jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, but they're rare. Electrical controls engineering is fundamentally a hands-on discipline that requires physical access to panels, PLCs, and production equipment. About 57% of electrical controls engineer openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those roles tend to be in design engineering, documentation, or project management rather than commissioning or field support.
How can I get hired as a electrical controls engineer in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an electrical engineering technology degree from a Minnesota institution like Minnesota State University Mankato or Dunwoody College of Technology, both of which feed directly into controls roles at regional manufacturers. Large Minnesota employers such as Eaton and General Mills hire new graduates into associate controls or automation engineer roles. Candidates who complete internships at system integrators, build a portfolio of PLC ladder logic projects, or earn an entry-level ISA Certified Automation Professional credential are regularly selected over candidates without those credentials.
Where can I find and apply to electrical controls engineer jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to electrical controls engineer jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state's manufacturing, medical device, and industrial automation sectors. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 15 Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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