Controls Design Estimator

KPI Solutions; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

Pet Insurance

Wellness Program

Paid Time Off

Training & Development

Job summary

KPI Solutions seeks a Controls Design Engineer - Controls & Electrical to validate mechanical designs, develop preliminary electrical concepts, and estimate equipment and labor for MHE projects.

You will bridge Sales, Mechanical and Controls/Electrical leads, ensuring proposals reflect realistic scope, cost and execution plans, while delivering compliant drawings, BOMs and clear documentation for handoff to execution teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years of pre-sales, applications engineering, or technical estimation.
• Knowledge of NEC and NFPA and UL508A.
• Experience using AutoCAD-Electrical (ACAD-E) to create, read and interpret electrical drawings and schematics.
• Knowledge of Allen Bradley electrical products.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, Profinet).
• Experience with conveyor and MHE control systems (sorters, conveyors, palletizers, panel electrical components).
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to lead technical conversations with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Review and validate mechanical designs and layouts for controls and electrical feasibility.
• Identify technical risks, gaps, or constructability concerns early.
• Develop preliminary electrical system concepts using standards and KPI guidelines.
• Calculate power requirements and ratings for single line diagrams and control panels.
• Develop and release bill of materials for panels and field devices.
• Utilize AutoCAD-E and KPI custom tools to complete drawings for control panels and layouts.
• Define high-level Controls scope and integration approach.
• Collaborate with Controls and Electrical Engineering leads to ensure feasibility.
• Estimate electrical equipment, including panels, devices, power distribution, and field components.
• Develop electrical and controls engineering labor estimates.
• Partner with Sales to support technical proposal development and handoff to execution teams.
• Documentation & Compliance

Skills

Industrial networking

Leadership & communication

Pre-sales/estimation experience

Multi-priority management

Project collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical (ACAD-E)

Allen-Bradley products

Job description

The Controls Design Engineer - Controls & Electrical is responsible for technical validation and solution definition during the pre‑sales phase, with a primary focus on mechanical design validation, preliminary electrical and controls concept development, and accurate estimation of electrical equipment and labor. This role serves as the technical bridge between Sales, Mechanical Engineering, and Controls/Electrical Engineering, ensuring MHE projects (conveyors, AS/RS, robotics, sortation, and associated industrial automation technologies) are sold with realistic scope, cost, and execution assumptions—reducing downstream change, rework, and margin erosion.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Review and validate mechanical designs and layouts for controls and electrical feasibility
• Identify technical risks, gaps, or constructability concerns early
• Ensure proposed solutions align with KPI standards, preferred architecture, and delivery model
• Develop preliminary electrical system concepts using IEC/US standards, customer specifications and KPI guidelines, including:
• Control panel approach
• Power distribution strategy
• Calculate power requirements and ratings for single line diagrams and control panels
• Network and controls architecture assumptions
• Develop and release bill of materials for panels and field devices
• Utilize Autodesk ACAD-E and other KPI custom tools to complete drawings for control panels, power distribution single lines, conveyor layouts, and other electrical drawings as required
• Define high‑level Controls scope and integration approach
• Collaborate with Controls and Electrical Engineering leads to ensure feasibility
• Estimate electrical equipment, including panels, devices, power distribution, and field components
• Develop electrical and controls engineering labor estimates.
• Partner with Sales to support technical proposal development, provide understanding of cost drivers and tradeoffs, clean handoff to execution teams post‑award.
• Documentation & Compliance

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent engineering qualifications.
• 5+ years of proven experience supporting pre‑sales, applications engineering, or technical estimation.
• Knowledge of NEC and NFPA and UL508A
• Experience using AutoCAD-Electrical (ACAD-E) to create, read and interpret electrical drawings and schematics is required.
• Knowledge of Allen Bradley electrical products.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, Profinet, etc.).
• Experience with conveyor and MHE control systems (sorters, conveyors, palletizers, panel electrical components, field electrical components etc), safety PLCs, machine automation and interfacing with PLC/Software.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to lead technical conversations with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Care Concierge Service
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (Pre-tax & Roth)
• Company paid Basic Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Milk Stork Program
• Wellness Program with gift card redemption and wellness challenges
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & 10 Holidays)
• Training & Development

KPI Solutions provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by states, federal, or local law.