Control Systems Engineer

Certified Industrial Partners; Oak Forest (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Panatrol, an industrial controls integrator based in the Chicago area, seeks a Controls Systems Engineer to design and support engineered systems from kickoff through closeout. You will review specs, support panel and network design, and assist with PLC/HMI/drive programming and testing.

Responsibilities include preparing schematics and BOMs, troubleshooting relay logic, coordinating with vendors, and traveling as needed to job sites across the continental US.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field preferred; or equivalent experience.
• 1–5 years of related experience in electrical controls engineering, industrial automation, or similar work.
• Experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting (Rockwell/AB).
• Ability to read customer specifications, vendor manuals, and electrical schematics.

Responsibilities

• Review specs, drawings, RFIs, submittals to verify technical obligations and identify gaps.
• Support design of control systems including panels, motor controls, PLC I/O, HMI, VFDs, instrumentation, and networks.
• Prepare and revise schematics, BOMs, wiring diagrams, I/O drawings, and related hardware docs.
• Develop and troubleshoot relay-control circuits and hardwired logic.
• Support PLC, HMI, and drive programming, including testing and alarm mapping.
• Assist with VFD setup and PLC/HMI communications.
• Prepare test procedures for shop, FAT, and startup verification.
• Compile project documentation and provide technical support to teams.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

VFD setup

Electrical schematics

AutoCAD Electrical

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Motor controls

Power distribution

Reading drawings/specs

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

EPLAN

Job description

Panatrol is an industrial controls integrator headquartered out of the Chicago area. Since 1978, Panatrol has delivered innovative and dependable solutions for a variety of industrial applications. The company has grown from servicing a small regional base of customers to working on some of the largest controls and integration projects in North America.

About The Role

The Controls Systems Engineer reviews and designs engineered systems for various applications in various facilities. They will be responsible for supporting engineering execution from project kickoff through submittals, fabrication, testing, installation, commissioning, and closeout.

What You'll Do

• Review customer specifications, drawings, RFIs, submittal comments, and scope documents to verify technical obligations and identify gaps, conflicts, or missing information.
• Support design of industrial control systems, including control panels, motor controls, PLC I/O, HMI interfaces, VFDs, instrumentation, networked devices, and field wiring.
• Select and size electrical components such as circuit breakers, fuses, contactors, starters, overloads, transformers, power supplies, relays, terminal blocks, surge protection, disconnects, VFD accessories, and other panel hardware.
• Prepare and revise electrical schematics, panel layouts, bills of material, wiring diagrams, I/O drawings, network drawings, and related hardware documentation.
• Develop, read, and troubleshoot relay-control circuits and hardwired logic, including seal-in circuits, permissives, interlocks, timers, safety relays, and contact cross-references.
• Support PLC, HMI, and drive programming, including logic updates, HMI screen changes, alarm/status mapping, device configuration, and functional testing.
• Support VFD setup and integration, including control method coordination, parameter review, drive status/alarm interfaces, and PLC/HMI communications.
• Prepare and execute test procedures for shop testing, factory acceptance testing, point-to-point checks, functional checks, alarm checks, and startup verification.
• Compile and maintain project documentation, including submittals, test procedures, operator manuals, owner manuals, maintenance manuals, spare parts lists, and closeout documentation.
• Provide clear technical support to the panel shop, installation electricians, service technicians, project managers, sales, vendors, contractors, and customers.
• Support field investigation, installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and service activities as needed.
• Perform basic power distribution and control power calculations in support of design, component selection, and system testing.
• Review vendor documentation, coordinate with manufacturers and distributors, and maintain current product knowledge to support accurate design and favorable product quotes.
• Analyze customer and project needs, provide value-added technical input, and identify practical solutions while protecting the company's approved scope of work.
• Escalate technical conflicts, scope gaps, code questions, or customer requests that require senior engineering, project management, or Engineer of Record direction.
• Interpret and apply applicable engineering statutes, standards, and good practices such as UL, NEC, and NFPA 70E within the limits of the assigned role.
• Possess the ability to handle a dynamic, fast-paced workload with minimum supervision while maintaining drawing and documentation accuracy.
• Willingness to travel as needed throughout the continental US.
• Ensure that proper safety and incident reporting procedures are followed, bringing problems to the attention of the Safety Manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Controls, Mechatronics, or a related technical field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-5 years of related experience in electrical controls engineering, industrial automation, control panel design, field service, commissioning, or similar work.
• Working knowledge of motor controls, including starters, MCPs, overloads, drives, Motor Control Centers, contactors, relays, timers, and safety relays.
• Power distribution knowledge: <600VAC 3-phase, 120VAC, 24VDC, step-down transformers, power supplies, grounding, circuit protection, and control power sizing.
• Relay logic knowledge: relay-control circuits, seal-in circuits, permissives, interlocks, contact cross-referencing, relay cross-referencing, and hardwired troubleshooting.
• Logic diagram basics; PLC I/O module drawings, general drawing cross-referencing, field wiring diagrams, and device-level documentation.
• Exposure/Experience to/with PLC programming and troubleshooting; Rockwell/Allen-Bradley experience preferred.
• Exposure/Experience to/with HMI programming or configuration, including screen updates, status/alarm displays, and operator interface testing.
• Exposure/Experience to/with VFD setup and integration, including parameter review, control wiring, drive communications, and motor-control troubleshooting.
• Experience preparing or supporting submittals, test procedures, operator manuals, owner manuals, O&M documentation, and closeout packages.
• Ability to read customer specifications, vendor manuals, electrical schematics, mechanical interface drawings, and installation details.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar electrical CAD tools preferred.
• Familiarity with UL 508A, NEC, NFPA 70E, and industrial control panel construction practices preferred.
• Proficient in MS Suite.
• Ability to travel overnight if required.
• Effective communication skills with sales, service, customers, vendors, electricians, and internal project teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to check work before release.

Behaviors/Work Environment/Physical Requirements

All Panatrol employees must have uncompromising integrity and ethical standards.

Accountability and Reliability.

Our employees must work reliably under pressure to keep on task and meet deadlines.

Passionate, Energetic, and Enthusiastic.

Our employees possess a high-energy level, focusing on execution with measurable results. We exhibit a "can-do attitude" to maintain enthusiasm and provide encouragement by our demeanor.

Strong Work Ethic

Our employees are fully committed and willing to do whatever it takes to drive the team and company brand into the future. Work/life balance is encouraged at Panatrol with the expectation that team members give 110% effort on the job. Panatrol is a fast-paced environment, and it is critical that our employees are driven to succeed.

Supportive.

Our employees possess emotional intelligence and common sense to support team members and appreciate the value of our culture and company.

Physical.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle and talk or hear.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Disclaimer

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Federal law obligates us to provide reasonable accommodation to the known disabilities of employees, unless to do so would pose an undue hardship. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need an accommodation to complete these listed essential functions.