Green Card Senior Control Engineer Jobs
Senior Control Engineer roles qualify for green card sponsorship under EB-2 and EB-3 when the position requires a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering plus specialized industry experience. Employers file a PERM labor certification with the DOL before sponsoring permanent residency, making this a long-term commitment rather than a temporary work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Our Equipment Automation Engineering (EAE) team seeks a professional and innovative individual to join our team in Pullman WA or Lewiston ID. SEL is a 100 percent employee-owned company that specializes in creating and manufacturing digital products and systems that protect and control power systems around the world.
The Equipment Automation Engineering team supports manufacturing and vertical integration teams by understanding our manufacturing processes, recommending solutions, and executing projects.
The successful candidate will be dependable, responsible, and self-motivated, and work closely with EAE mechanical engineers, Production representatives, and related Engineering teams to develop, successfully implement, and support manufacturing automation solutions. These solutions often include fully custom automation designs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Controls Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
-
Mentoring engineers and technicians.
-
Leading in initial equipment concept development and carefully balancing product specifications, process control requirements, layout complexity, cost, quality, and lead-time limits.
-
Laying out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and create electrical schematics.
-
Architecting, writing, and debugging PLC ladder logic with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. PLC code will interact with subsystems such as conveyors, robots, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), machine vision, and 3rd party equipment.
-
Managing electrical cabinet builds.
-
Creating machine interactions with plant-wide Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
-
Introducing automated machines and processes into production, and training Maintenance and Production teams to support after deployment of equipment.
-
Creating and reviewing specifications and providing technical evaluations for outsourced automated equipment purchases.
-
Performing as technical lead on assigned projects.
-
Other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
This job might be for you if you have:
-
B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or related discipline.
-
12+ years relevant experience in designing and implementing automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.
-
Strong technical expertise in the application of PLCs (example: Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi), HMI/GUI layout, Field Bus Networks, Safety Systems, Vision Systems, and integration of Robotics.
-
Familiarity with electrical prints and standards for industrial equipment.
-
Excellent technical presentation and training skills.
-
Demonstrated advanced proficiency in programming PLCs, with a well-defined methodology for maintaining code structure and organization.
-
Ability to program state machines for complex processes which involve multi-station parallel processing, pick and place automation, data acquisition, and PID control.
-
Proven ability to design reliable systems with error handling and recovery processes.
COMPENSATION
- Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
PAY RANGE DATA
New hires generally start between $160,600 - $230,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.
COMMUNICATION WITH APPLICANTS
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
INTRODUCTION
Our Equipment Automation Engineering (EAE) team seeks a professional and innovative individual to join our team in Pullman WA or Lewiston ID. SEL is a 100 percent employee-owned company that specializes in creating and manufacturing digital products and systems that protect and control power systems around the world.
The Equipment Automation Engineering team supports manufacturing and vertical integration teams by understanding our manufacturing processes, recommending solutions, and executing projects.
The successful candidate will be dependable, responsible, and self-motivated, and work closely with EAE mechanical engineers, Production representatives, and related Engineering teams to develop, successfully implement, and support manufacturing automation solutions. These solutions often include fully custom automation designs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Controls Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
-
Mentoring engineers and technicians.
-
Leading in initial equipment concept development and carefully balancing product specifications, process control requirements, layout complexity, cost, quality, and lead-time limits.
-
Laying out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and create electrical schematics.
-
Architecting, writing, and debugging PLC ladder logic with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. PLC code will interact with subsystems such as conveyors, robots, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), machine vision, and 3rd party equipment.
-
Managing electrical cabinet builds.
-
Creating machine interactions with plant-wide Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
-
Introducing automated machines and processes into production, and training Maintenance and Production teams to support after deployment of equipment.
-
Creating and reviewing specifications and providing technical evaluations for outsourced automated equipment purchases.
-
Performing as technical lead on assigned projects.
-
Other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
This job might be for you if you have:
-
B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or related discipline.
-
12+ years relevant experience in designing and implementing automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.
-
Strong technical expertise in the application of PLCs (example: Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi), HMI/GUI layout, Field Bus Networks, Safety Systems, Vision Systems, and integration of Robotics.
-
Familiarity with electrical prints and standards for industrial equipment.
-
Excellent technical presentation and training skills.
-
Demonstrated advanced proficiency in programming PLCs, with a well-defined methodology for maintaining code structure and organization.
-
Ability to program state machines for complex processes which involve multi-station parallel processing, pick and place automation, data acquisition, and PID control.
-
Proven ability to design reliable systems with error handling and recovery processes.
COMPENSATION
- Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
PAY RANGE DATA
New hires generally start between $160,600 - $230,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.
COMMUNICATION WITH APPLICANTS
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
See all 996+ Green Card Senior Control Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Senior Control Engineer
Align your credentials to PERM requirements
Your degree field and years of experience must match exactly what the employer lists in the PERM job description. A mismatch between your mechanical engineering degree and a controls-specific role requirement can stall or invalidate the labor certification filing.
Target employers with active EB-3 filing history
Search the DOL's OFLC Wage Search to identify companies that have filed PERM certifications for control engineer roles. Employers already familiar with the PERM process are far less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-application due to process complexity.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Filter your job search by green card sponsorship history using Migrate Mate. This surfaces Senior Control Engineer openings at companies that have demonstrably sponsored PERM and I-140 petitions for similar engineering roles before.
Understand how EB-2 and EB-3 affect your timeline
EB-2 requires an advanced degree or a National Interest Waiver, while EB-3 covers bachelor's-level professionals. Most countries outside India and China face no significant priority date backlog at the EB-3 level, so EB-3 sponsorship often leads to a green card faster than you'd expect.
Negotiate sponsorship before your offer letter
Raise green card sponsorship during the offer stage, not after you've signed. Ask specifically whether the employer will file both PERM and the I-140 petition, and confirm who covers the attorney and filing fees, since USCIS prohibits employers from passing certain costs to the employee.
Document specialized control systems experience carefully
PERM requires the employer to demonstrate you meet the minimum requirements for the role. Create a detailed record of your PLC programming, SCADA system work, or DCS configuration experience now, since USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence on the I-140 asking for this documentation.
Green Card Senior Control Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Senior Control Engineer roles qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Both categories apply depending on the employer's stated requirements and your credentials. EB-3 covers positions requiring a bachelor's degree in engineering, which fits most control engineer roles. EB-2 applies when the role requires a master's degree or equivalent, or when you qualify through a National Interest Waiver based on specialized expertise in industrial automation or critical infrastructure systems.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B for a Senior Control Engineer?
H-1B visa is a temporary work visa subject to an annual lottery, while PERM-based green card sponsorship leads to permanent residency with no cap for most nationalities at the EB-3 level. The PERM process takes longer upfront, often 12 to 24 months from labor certification to I-140 approval, but it eliminates lottery risk entirely and locks in your immigration status permanently rather than requiring repeated renewals.
What does the PERM labor certification process involve for control engineering roles?
The employer must conduct a good-faith recruitment campaign proving no qualified U.S. workers are available for the specific role. DOL then certifies the position, after which the employer files an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS on your behalf. The job duties and minimum requirements in the PERM filing must accurately reflect the actual position, and your documented experience must meet those exact requirements to avoid an RFE.
How can I find Senior Control Engineer jobs that offer green card sponsorship?
Search specifically for employers with a documented history of filing PERM certifications for engineering roles. Migrate Mate filters job listings by green card sponsorship history, letting you target companies that have completed the PERM and I-140 process for similar positions. This significantly reduces the time you spend approaching employers who are unfamiliar with or unwilling to fund the sponsorship process.
Can my control systems experience outside a formal degree substitute for educational requirements in EB-3 sponsorship?
USCIS allows three years of relevant work experience to substitute for one year of college education under certain EB-3 filings. If you hold a two-year engineering technology diploma plus extensive PLC, SCADA, or DCS experience, your employer can structure the PERM minimum requirements to reflect that equivalency. This must be established in the original PERM filing, since requirements cannot be changed retroactively after certification.