STEM OPT Senior Control Engineer Jobs
Senior Control Engineer roles in automation, process control, and systems integration qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Pigler Automation is a successful Industrial Automation company looking to expand our team with the addition of an experienced Controls Engineer (3-5+ years experience).
Why would you want to work with us?
We believe the success of our company depends upon the success of each individual contributor, so we foster an environment that encourages your growth. Our first priority is to accurately define what success looks like in your role. When you clearly understand what’s expected, you are empowered to achieve and even exceed those expectations. This is met with a roadmap that charts a path for how you can advance in your career.
As a growing organization, you have the opportunity to join a team on the ground floor of becoming the premier automation company in our industry. You also get to work with industry-leading companies that shape the world in which we live. If you’re an engineer that has dreamed of improving the world, do it with us.
We have embraced a work-from-anywhere model by prioritizing the person over where they choose to live and work. Although much of the work we do for our customers is performed remotely, our engineers also get the opportunity to be hands-on by visiting site locations when required. We also enjoy hanging out with one another, so we have annual gatherings where we bring the whole team together in Louisville, Colorado.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a mid-level engineer who can hit the ground running. You should be comfortable walking onto a client site, identifying hardware, and jumping into the logic with minimal supervision. As a Controls II Engineer, you aren’t just a coder; you are a project owner who can manage small-to-medium scopes and mentor junior team members.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Required Experience:
- 2–5 years of professional experience specifically programming and commissioning within the Rockwell/Allen-Bradley ecosystem (Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View, PlantPAx). Experience with Siemens PCS7 is a significant plus, but Rockwell proficiency is required.
- Project Ownership: Proven ability to manage small-to-medium projects with oversight, including leading technical discussions, customer meetings, and status tracking.
- Onsite Commissioning: Proven ability to lead or play a primary role in industrial plant startups, upgrades, and loop checks.
- Project Execution: Experience taking a project from the design phase through to final site acceptance, including customer communication and status tracking.
- Documentation Literacy: Strong proficiency with standard process control documentation (P&IDs, Cause & Effects, I/O Lists, and electrical schematics).
-
Travel: Ability and willingness to travel for onsite client work. Frequency will vary depending on project needs.
-
Minimum Requirements:
- Education: BS in Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
- Experience: 3-5 years of direct work experience as a Controls Engineer. (In lieu of a degree, 10+ years of documented process control experience will be considered).
- Self-Management: Proven reliability in delivery and coordination across teams in a remote-first work environment.
- Eligibility: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and maintain a valid state-issued driver’s license.
- Background: Accepted candidates will be subject to a civil/criminal background check and drug screening.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Desired Experience:
- Industrial Networking: Hands-on experience with EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and Modbus RTU-TCP/IP. Familiarity with PROFIBUS or PROFINET is a plus.
- Hardware & Architecture: Experience configuring ControlLogix and CompactLogix controllers, PowerFlex drives, and Kinetix motion control.
- Virtualization: Proficiency with VMWare and managing virtualized control environments.
- Field Instrumentation: Practical knowledge of field signals (4-20mA, HART) and instrument calibration.
- Design Tools: Experience with AutoCAD or ePlan for control panel layouts and BOM creation.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $82,000.00 - $104,000.00 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- What Pigler Core Value do you align with the most?
- What are things you're looking for in a career?
- Based on your work experience, what are things you're not looking for?
- Do you have any previous controls experience? If so, what systems do you have experience in?
The Company:
Founded in 2005, Pigler Automation is an industrial automation company based in Louisville, Colorado. We specialize in control systems integration focused on delivering the best solutions for our customers. While we are a proud Siemens Solutions Partner, we are actively expanding our Rockwell Automation practice to support our growing client base. Our purpose is to build lasting relationships with our people and companies that improve the world. Our customers operate in a variety of industries including Oil and Gas, Chemical, Agriculture, Power, Renewables, Automotive, Food & Beverage, and Pharmaceutical.
Pigler Automation is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
INTRODUCTION
Pigler Automation is a successful Industrial Automation company looking to expand our team with the addition of an experienced Controls Engineer (3-5+ years experience).
Why would you want to work with us?
We believe the success of our company depends upon the success of each individual contributor, so we foster an environment that encourages your growth. Our first priority is to accurately define what success looks like in your role. When you clearly understand what’s expected, you are empowered to achieve and even exceed those expectations. This is met with a roadmap that charts a path for how you can advance in your career.
As a growing organization, you have the opportunity to join a team on the ground floor of becoming the premier automation company in our industry. You also get to work with industry-leading companies that shape the world in which we live. If you’re an engineer that has dreamed of improving the world, do it with us.
We have embraced a work-from-anywhere model by prioritizing the person over where they choose to live and work. Although much of the work we do for our customers is performed remotely, our engineers also get the opportunity to be hands-on by visiting site locations when required. We also enjoy hanging out with one another, so we have annual gatherings where we bring the whole team together in Louisville, Colorado.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a mid-level engineer who can hit the ground running. You should be comfortable walking onto a client site, identifying hardware, and jumping into the logic with minimal supervision. As a Controls II Engineer, you aren’t just a coder; you are a project owner who can manage small-to-medium scopes and mentor junior team members.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Required Experience:
- 2–5 years of professional experience specifically programming and commissioning within the Rockwell/Allen-Bradley ecosystem (Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View, PlantPAx). Experience with Siemens PCS7 is a significant plus, but Rockwell proficiency is required.
- Project Ownership: Proven ability to manage small-to-medium projects with oversight, including leading technical discussions, customer meetings, and status tracking.
- Onsite Commissioning: Proven ability to lead or play a primary role in industrial plant startups, upgrades, and loop checks.
- Project Execution: Experience taking a project from the design phase through to final site acceptance, including customer communication and status tracking.
- Documentation Literacy: Strong proficiency with standard process control documentation (P&IDs, Cause & Effects, I/O Lists, and electrical schematics).
-
Travel: Ability and willingness to travel for onsite client work. Frequency will vary depending on project needs.
-
Minimum Requirements:
- Education: BS in Electrical, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering.
- Experience: 3-5 years of direct work experience as a Controls Engineer. (In lieu of a degree, 10+ years of documented process control experience will be considered).
- Self-Management: Proven reliability in delivery and coordination across teams in a remote-first work environment.
- Eligibility: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and maintain a valid state-issued driver’s license.
- Background: Accepted candidates will be subject to a civil/criminal background check and drug screening.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Desired Experience:
- Industrial Networking: Hands-on experience with EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and Modbus RTU-TCP/IP. Familiarity with PROFIBUS or PROFINET is a plus.
- Hardware & Architecture: Experience configuring ControlLogix and CompactLogix controllers, PowerFlex drives, and Kinetix motion control.
- Virtualization: Proficiency with VMWare and managing virtualized control environments.
- Field Instrumentation: Practical knowledge of field signals (4-20mA, HART) and instrument calibration.
- Design Tools: Experience with AutoCAD or ePlan for control panel layouts and BOM creation.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $82,000.00 - $104,000.00 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- What Pigler Core Value do you align with the most?
- What are things you're looking for in a career?
- Based on your work experience, what are things you're not looking for?
- Do you have any previous controls experience? If so, what systems do you have experience in?
The Company:
Founded in 2005, Pigler Automation is an industrial automation company based in Louisville, Colorado. We specialize in control systems integration focused on delivering the best solutions for our customers. While we are a proud Siemens Solutions Partner, we are actively expanding our Rockwell Automation practice to support our growing client base. Our purpose is to build lasting relationships with our people and companies that improve the world. Our customers operate in a variety of industries including Oil and Gas, Chemical, Agriculture, Power, Renewables, Automotive, Food & Beverage, and Pharmaceutical.
Pigler Automation is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
See all 201+ STEM OPT Senior Control Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Control Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by USCIS. Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science codes commonly support Senior Control Engineer roles, but industrial technology codes vary by school and may not qualify.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you reach the offer stage. A company can be enthusiastic about hiring you but still be ineligible to employ STEM OPT workers if it hasn't completed E-Verify enrollment.
Build an I-983 training plan around control systems
Draft your I-983 before your start date, mapping your engineering degree learning outcomes to specific job duties like PLC programming, SCADA configuration, or closed-loop tuning. Generic descriptions get returned by DSOs; specificity tied to your coursework clears faster.
Target manufacturers with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter Senior Control Engineer roles by employers with verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history. Companies that have filed LCAs for control or automation engineers have already navigated the E-Verify and prevailing-wage process.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wage data
Run the job title and your target metro area through the OFLC Wage Search before evaluating offers. Employers sponsoring STEM OPT workers who later file for H-1B visa must meet DOL prevailing-wage thresholds, so an offer below Level I wages can create problems at the H-1B stage.
Use O*NET to align your resume with SOC codes
Senior Control Engineer maps to specific SOC codes in O*NET, which USCIS and DOL use to classify the role at H-1B petition time. Matching your resume's language to O*NET task descriptions for your target code strengthens continuity between your STEM OPT training plan and any future sponsorship petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Control Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. Your degree must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List and carry an eligible CIP code. Electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering degrees typically qualify. The role itself must also provide training directly related to that field of study, which you document in the I-983 training plan your employer signs.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a control engineering role?
The I-983 must connect your STEM degree's learning objectives to specific job duties you'll perform. For a Senior Control Engineer, that means describing how your coursework in control theory, instrumentation, or embedded systems applies to tasks like PLC logic development, process loop tuning, or HMI design. Vague descriptions tied to general engineering skills are frequently returned by DSOs for revision.
How do I confirm that a potential employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly during the screening stage, before you invest time in technical interviews. E-Verify enrollment is required for any employer hiring STEM OPT workers, and not every company in automation or manufacturing has completed enrollment. You can also search the E-Verify employer search tool to check a company's enrollment status by name before applying.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery but not yet effective?
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT expires and the petition is timely filed, the cap-gap provision extends your work authorization automatically until October 1, when the new fiscal year H-1B status takes effect. You can continue working as a Senior Control Engineer throughout that gap period without interruption, as long as you remain in the same qualifying role.
Where can I find Senior Control Engineer jobs at E-Verify enrolled companies?
Migrate Mate filters Senior Control Engineer listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and DOL LCA filing history, so you're not applying to companies that can't legally employ STEM OPT workers. This saves time during the offer stage and helps you avoid discovering E-Verify gaps after you've already completed multiple interview rounds.