Controls Engineer

Dahlen Systems, Inc.; Golden Valley (MN); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dahlen Systems, Inc. in Golden Valley, MN, seeks a Controls Engineer to design, program, and commission automation systems across industries, using Rockwell PLCs, Ignition SCADA, and leading data platforms.

You will work from concept through startup, perform FAT/SAT testing, and collaborate with clients to deliver practical, high-quality solutions while traveling 20-30% for commissioning.

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of experience in controls or system integration.
• Strong PLC programming experience (Rockwell preferred).
• Experience with SCADA/HMI development (Ignition a plus).
• Knowledge of industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA, IO-Link).
• Ability to read electrical schematics and think through system design.
• Willingness to travel 20-30% for commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Design and program control systems using primarily Rockwell PLCs.
• Develop intuitive HMI/SCADA applications in Ignition, AVEVA, and Rockwell.
• Integrate plant data using Canary Historian and AVEVA platforms.
• Take projects from concept through startup and commissioning.
• Perform FAT/SAT, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system performance.
• Work directly with clients to deliver practical, high-quality solutions.

Skills

Controls engineering

SCADA development

Electrical schematics reading

Travel willingness

Team collaboration

Tools

Rockwell PLCs

Ignition SCADA

AVEVA

Canary Historian

OPC UA

Modbus

Job description

We're looking for a Controls Engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and seeing their work come to life on the plant floor. This role offers the chance to design, program, and commission automation systems across a variety of industries, using modern tools like Rockwell PLCs, Ignition SCADA, and leading data platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design and program control systems using primarily Rockwell PLCs
• Develop intuitive HMI/SCADA applications in Ignition, AVEVA, and Rockwell
• Integrate plant data using Canary Historian and AVEVA platforms
• Take projects from concept through startup and commissioning
• Perform FAT/SAT, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system performance
• Work directly with clients to deliver practical, high-quality solutions

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of experience in controls or system integration
• Strong PLC programming experience (Rockwell preferred)
• Experience with SCADA/HMI development (Ignition a plus)
• Knowledge of industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA, IO-Link)
• Ability to read electrical schematics and think through system design
• Willingness to travel 20-30% for commissioning

Nice to Have

• Experience with Canary Historian or AVEVA (Wonderware)
• Familiarity with MQTT, Sparkplug, or IIoT architectures
• Basic scripting or database experience (SQL, Python)
• Previous system integrator experience

Why Join Us

• Project variety, no repetitive work
• Modern technology stack: Ignition, IIoT, and data-driven systems
• Ownership: see your work through from design to startup
• Strong team of experienced controls engineers
• Growth opportunities, technical or into leadership