Controls Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois controls engineer jobs are concentrated in the Chicago metro, with major employers including Rockwell Automation partners, Abbott Laboratories, Caterpillar, and Siemens. The state's deep manufacturing base, spanning food processing, medical devices, and industrial automation, creates consistent demand for controls engineers who need visa sponsorship.
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Description
The Automation & Controls Engineer executes Automation and Controls Engineering design activities for minor to major scale Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects in food, consumer products, pharmaceutical, life science, aerospace and industrial facilities. Responsible for executing automation and controls deliverables for project(s) in the front end, detailed design, construction, and start-up phases. Projects range from controls projects working directly for the client to controls self-execution on full scale Automation and Controls EPC projects.
- Responsible for compliance with company and project site safety policies.
- Works with a team of Automation and Controls Engineers, Specialists, and Designers in the execution of design. Interfaces with a multi-faceted project team internally consisting of project manager, electrical, controls, estimating, procurement, construction, and other engineering disciplines.
- Responsible for developing software design deliverables including PLC and HMI programming design deliverables as well as Batch, MES, servers and virtualization. Responsible for commissioning and startup of those design deliverables.
- Develop controls design deliverables, including instrument/device list, I/O list, controls narratives, control panel and controls hardware design, device location plan drawings and installation details.
- Develop electrical design deliverables including 480VAC and below equipment and motor power design, installation plan drawings, and conductor schedules.
- Develop the specification and design requirements for control panel and equipment vendors, track vendor progression, and lead the Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).
- Experience with process instrument measurements protocols, such as temperature, pressure, flow, level, analyzers, and control valves. Utilize knowledge of various technologies for selecting the appropriate controls application.
- Experienced in reviewing P&IDs and working with process engineers to define and show proper controls scope of the project.
- Develop verification of design, calculations, project studies, design basis and report preparation.
- Interfaces directly with offsite design office and coordinates and tracks execution of all electrical controls department work to that office.
- Responsible for performing quality reviews of project design submittals.
- Responsible for applying knowledge of commonly used automation and controls engineering/design concepts, principles, practices, codes, and procedures within the engineering services industry.
- Interfaces directly with construction personnel in development of contracts and execution of work.
- Tracks Automation and Controls design efforts against budgets and expected progress.
- Works with clients and vendors directly in developing design and builds lasting business relationships.
- Responsible for leadership and guidance of less experienced team members.
- Coordinate with field personnel to resolve design related installation issues, calculations, field inspections and testing of controls systems.
- Responsible for technical execution during onsite start-up and commissioning activities.
- Develops and submits discipline change notices as needed to the project management team.
- Understands the basics of the EPC project execution methodology.
- This position will require making trips to job sites to survey and support installations and startups (travel about 30%).
- Begins to understand and utilize automation project sales strategies and develops client relationships.
- Understands and assists in automation standards development for the department.
- Participates in interviews for early career team members.
- Assists in the development of engineering hour estimates and proposals for all phases of the project.
- Coordinates workload with Automation and Controls Department Manager.
- Complies with all company policies and standards.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor Degree in Controls, Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or related degree from an ABET accredited program and successful completion of Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and 3 years electrical engineering experience. EPC project and Automation & Controls experience preferred.
- Master Degree in Electrical Engineering and 4 years electrical engineering experience. EPC project experience preferred.
- Expert knowledge in standard engineering techniques and procedures. Strong knowledge of electrical equipment design ANSI and IEEE Standards. Strong computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience with leading the discipline design for large projects and delegating work tasks to team members. Ability to lead execution of work and resolve issues in a team environment.
- Demonstrated critical thinking skills, ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem-solving environment.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to perform quality reviews for detailed engineering documents and specifications.
- Ability to travel.
- Must have or be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
- Professional Engineer (PE) License Preferred.
Preferred:
- This position requires an individual capable of applying intensive and diversified knowledge of principles and practices to broad areas of assignment. Must be capable of devising new approaches to problems encountered.
- Ability to perform quality reviews for detailed engineering documents and specifications.
- Knowledge of applicable design standards covering Automation & Controls Design/Engineering such as NFPA, ISA, IEC, IEEE, ISA/IEC 61511, ISO13849, UL508A.
- Experienced with variety of control and safety systems (PLC, SCADA, SIS, BMS, DCS).
- Experience in Rockwell and Siemens PLC platform. Experience in GE, Modicon, Opto22, Mitsubishi, and Triconex PLC platforms a plus.
- SCADA experience with Factory Talk and Wonderware local and distributed systems, Ignition Software is a plus.
- MES Design and Implementation Experience a Plus, PTC ThingWorx, Ignition/Sepasoft, Parsec TrakSYS.
- Machine safety risk assessment and required PL design compliance to ISO13849 is a plus.
- Process safety SIF/SIS design compliance to ISA/IEC 61511 is a plus.
- Experience with PlantPAX and PackML is preferred.
- Familiarity with tools like SISTEMA, CCW, IAB, BatchSIM, and PlantSIM is desired.
Compensation
$105,000.00-150,000.00 Yearly
The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.
Benefits
Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Instrumentation & Controls Engineering
Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City
Other Locations US-MO-Saint Louis, US-GA-Atlanta, US-IL-Chicago
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 260391
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-KJ #GFS
Controls Engineer Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Controls Engineer Jobs in IllinoisControls Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for controls engineers in Illinois?
Illinois employers with a track record of sponsoring controls engineers include Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, Siemens, Kraft Heinz, and various automation integrators based in the Chicago metro and Peoria areas. Large manufacturers and industrial automation firms tend to sponsor H-1B visas most frequently, as controls engineering consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a relevant engineering degree.
Which visa types are most common for controls engineer roles in Illinois?
The H-1B is the most common visa for controls engineers in Illinois, given the role's clear degree requirement in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify for TN visa status under the USMCA engineer category. Candidates with extraordinary recognition in automation or process control may explore the O-1A, though that pathway requires substantial documented achievements.
Which cities in Illinois have the most controls engineer sponsorship jobs?
Chicago and its suburbs, particularly Downers Grove, Schaumburg, and Lisle, account for the largest share of controls engineer sponsorship jobs in Illinois. Peoria is a secondary hub, driven by Caterpillar's engineering operations. Decatur and Joliet also have relevant manufacturing activity, particularly in food processing and petrochemical sectors where controls expertise is in steady demand.
How to find controls engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, so you can search controls engineer roles in Illinois without sifting through positions that don't support international candidates. The platform surfaces openings from manufacturers, automation integrators, and industrial firms across the Chicago metro and downstate regions, making it more efficient than general-purpose job searches for candidates who need employer sponsorship.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for controls engineers seeking visa sponsorship?
Illinois participates in the federal prevailing wage system, so sponsoring employers must pay controls engineers at least the Department of Labor's determined wage for the relevant location and experience level. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Institute of Technology produce a steady pipeline of controls-adjacent engineering graduates, meaning some Illinois employers already have established processes for sponsoring international engineers, particularly in the automation and manufacturing sectors.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored controls engineer jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.