Controls Design Estimator

Kpi-Solutions; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Training & Development

Pet Insurance

Job summary

KPI Solutions seeks a Controls Design Engineer – Controls & Electrical in the United States. You will validate mechanical designs, develop preliminary electrical concepts, and estimate equipment and labor. The role bridges Sales with Mechanical and Controls/Electrical Engineering to ensure realistic scope and costs for MHE projects.

Requirements include a B.E. in Electrical Engineering, 5+ years in pre‑sales or technical estimation, and proficiency with ACAD-E and Allen Bradley.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years pre-sales or applications engineering or technical estimation experience.
• Knowledge of NEC, NFPA and UL508A.
• Experience using AutoCAD-Electrical (ACAD-E) to create/read schematics.
• Knowledge of Allen Bradley electrical products.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, Profinet, etc.).

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 and KPI guidelines.
• Define high‑level Controls scope and integration approach.
• Collaborate with Engineering leads to ensure feasibility.
• Estimate electrical equipment, including panels, devices, and distribution.
• Develop electrical and controls engineering labor estimates.
• Support technical proposal development with Sales and provide cost-driver insights.
• Documentation & Compliance.

Skills

Communication

Documentation

Technical leadership

Multitasking

Industrial networking

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

ACAD-Electrical

Allen Bradley

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

Required Qualifications:

• 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.

• 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.