Senior Level Lead Controls Engineer Jobs
Senior level lead controls engineer jobs place engineers in charge of automation architecture, cross-functional project leadership, and the technical direction that keeps complex systems running at scale. Openings concentrate heavily in Manufacturing, Consulting & Professional Services, and Food & Beverage, with 71% of roles offered remote or hybrid, and employers like Eaton, HDR, and Calspan hiring at this level now.
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INTRODUCTION
Join Eaton's Electrical Engineering Services & Systems (EESS) team and lead the development, testing, and implementation of power systems control solutions for our customers using PLC’s, HMI’s, Multi-function Protection Relays, and Data Concentrators from all major OEM’s. This is a hybrid role with approximately 35%.
Our Power Systems Controls (PSC) group is a full-service integrator of the necessary systems, equipment, and technologies to provide a complete power systems automation solution. This team of talented engineers and technicians provides single point responsibility and seamless integration, transcending all major manufacturers of HMIs, PLCs, protective relays, and components.
The expected annual salary range for this role is $97,000 - $143,000 a year. This role offers paid overtime (premium pay) and a company vehicle!
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Create, modify, test, and deploy software for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI’s) for Power Transfer applications like (Main-Tie-Main, Main-Gen, Main-Tie-Main-Gen, Paralleling Switchgears etc.)
- Follow customers specifications and internal specifications for project implementation.
- Select components and create bill of materials.
- Provide sketches, mark-ups, and direction to Electrical Designers to develop project drawings.
- Prepare customer submittals, Sequence of Operation (SOO), and test procedures.
- Assist with factory testing and field start-ups as required.
- Troubleshoot systems that are not functioning properly.
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution with a minimum 7 years of power distribution controls experience OR Master's degree in Engineering with at least 5 years of power distribution controls experience OR a minimum 10 years of power distribution controls experience.
- This role is designated as a Regular Driver per Eaton’s Driver Safety Policy and requires a current, unrestricted driver’s license along with a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record. Candidates will be subject to a motor vehicle record check upon hire.
Preferred Qualifications:
- PE License
- Knowledge of Power Monitoring and Control Systems and associated protocols (Modbus, DNP3, IEC-61850)
- Preference will be given to candidates residing near one of the locations listed on the job posting.
Position Criteria:
- Submit to periodic customer required background and drug screenings.
- Successfully complete and maintain compliance with Eaton’s safety program and policy; This includes role-applicable portions of the EESS Qualified Electrical Worker (QEW) program and any required annual re-certifications thereafter.
LI-LS3
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.
The application window for this position is anticipated to close on December 20, 2026.
We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.
You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.
We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Food & Beverage
- Chemicals & Materials
- Investment & Asset Management
Senior Level Lead Controls Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level lead controls engineer job?
Employers at this level look for engineers who have owned full project lifecycles, not just executed tasks. Demonstrating that you have designed control system architectures, led cross-disciplinary teams, and driven commissioning from concept through startup sets you apart. Strong candidates also show depth in PLC and SCADA platforms, the ability to mentor junior engineers, and a history of solving problems that stopped a project.
Which companies hire senior level lead controls engineers?
Companies hiring senior level lead controls engineers right now include Eaton, HDR, and Calspan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from large industrial manufacturers, energy companies, and engineering services firms that need engineers who can lead programs independently rather than work under close supervision.
Are there remote senior level lead controls engineer jobs?
Yes, though remote availability at this level is more selective than in purely software-driven roles. About 71% of senior level lead controls engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most remote positions focused on design, programming, and project management phases rather than hands-on commissioning work, which typically requires site presence.
What makes a lead controls engineer role senior level?
Senior level roles are defined by ownership and scope. You are expected to set the technical direction for a project or program, make architectural decisions independently, and be accountable for outcomes rather than individual deliverables. Mentoring junior and mid-level engineers, interfacing directly with clients or executive stakeholders, and managing competing priorities across multiple systems or sites are standard expectations at this stage.
Which industries hire the most senior level lead controls engineers?
Senior level lead controls engineer roles concentrate in Manufacturing, Consulting & Professional Services, and Food & Beverage, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate large-scale, safety-critical automated systems where experienced engineers are needed to lead complex upgrades, expansions, and integration projects with limited tolerance for error.