Controls Engineer II – Hardware/Electrical

Daikin Applied Americas Inc; Iowa (LA); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options

401K with employer match

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied is looking for a Controls Engineer II - Hardware/Electrical to design, develop, test, and implement embedded controls for commercial HVAC equipment. You will collaborate with design, firmware, and manufacturing teams to ensure reliable, cost-effective performance across product lifecycles.

The role requires strong circuit design skills, experience with HVAC sensing and communication protocols, and a proactive approach to verification and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or related engineering discipline.
• 4+ years of experience designing embedded hardware or electrical systems.
• Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, power supplies, signal conditioning, microcontrollers, and mixed-signal electronics.
• Experience with electrical schematics, PCB design, and hardware development tools.
• Understanding of control systems, sensors, actuators, relays, contactors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and control panel design.
• Proficiency using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, and electronic loads.
• Familiarity with HVAC sensing technologies.
• Knowledge of EMC/EMI design practices, UL/CSA safety standards, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with hardware root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate embedded hardware and electrical control systems for commercial HVAC equipment.
• Develop analog and digital circuit designs for microcontroller-based control platforms.
• Create and maintain electrical schematics, PCB designs, BOMs, and documentation.
• Collaborate with firmware, mechanical, software, manufacturing, test, and product teams throughout development.
• Design, execute, and support hardware verification and validation testing.
• Analyze test results and perform root cause analysis to implement corrective actions.
• Evaluate sensors and instrumentation used in HVAC systems; integrate interfaces.
• Support communication protocols and field buses (BACnet, Modbus, CAN, RS-485, Ethernet, USB).
• Evaluate components, manage obsolescence and lifecycle changes.
• Identify design improvements for quality, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Support EMC/EMI, electrical safety, and regulatory testing activities.
• Provide technical support during launches and sustaining engineering.

Skills

Embedded hardware design

Analog & digital circuit design

Microcontrollers

Sensors & instrumentation

Electrical testing equipment

HVAC controls knowledge

EMC/EMI principles

Cross-functional collaboration

Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

Control sequence programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

PCB design tools

Schematic capture

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

CAN/RS-485 interface testing

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! Controls Engineer II - Hardware/Electrical - Plymouth, MN - Hybrid

Daikin Applied is seeking a Controls Engineer II - Hardware/Electrical responsible for designing, developing, testing and implementing controls systems for Daikin’s cutting-edge HVAC equipment. Under direct supervision, you will collaborate with project teams, design detailed controls systems, program control sequences and ensure systems operate efficiently and effectively to meet the environmental needs of various customers. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Hybrid, Plymouth, MN

Your Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and validate embedded hardware and electrical control systems for commercial (Preferably HVAC) equipment, including controllers, I/O modules, and peripheral devices
• Develop analog and digital circuit designs for microcontroller-based control platforms, ensuring reliability, performance, manufacturability, and cost objectives are met
• Create and maintain electrical schematics, PCB designs, BOMs, and engineering documentation
• Collaborate with firmware, mechanical, software, manufacturing, test, and product management teams throughout the product development lifecycle
• Design, execute, and support hardware verification and validation testing, including functional, environmental, and reliability testing of a control systems
• Analyze test results, troubleshoot hardware issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions
• Evaluate and integrate sensors and instrumentation commonly used in HVAC systems, including temperature (RTDs and thermistors), pressure, humidity, airflow, current, and voltage sensing devices
• Support communication interface development and troubleshooting for HVAC protocols and field buses such as BACnet, Modbus, CAN, RS-485, Ethernet, and USB
• Evaluate electronic components and suppliers, support component qualification, and manage component obsolescence and lifecycle changes
• Identify and implement design improvements to enhance product quality, reliability, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness
• Support EMC/EMI, electrical safety, UL/CSA compliance, and regulatory testing activities
• Provide technical support to manufacturing, quality, field service, and product management during product launches and sustaining engineering activities
• Perform competitive product evaluations and recommend technology improvements for next-generation HVAC controls

Your Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or a related engineering discipline
• 4+ years of experience designing embedded hardware or electrical systems
• Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, power supplies, signal conditioning, microcontrollers, and mixed-signal electronics
• Experience with electrical schematics, PCB design, and hardware development tools
• Understanding of control systems, sensors, actuators, relays, contactors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and control panel design
• Proficiency using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, and electronic loads
• Familiarity with temperature, pressure, humidity, airflow, and current sensing technologies used in HVAC applications
• Knowledge of EMC/EMI design practices, UL/CSA safety standards, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to perform hardware root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with cross‑functional engineering, manufacturing, quality, and product management teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced product development environment

Your Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or a related engineering discipline)
• Experience designing embedded hardware or electrical systems for HVAC controls, industrial controls, or building automation products
• Understanding of HVAC equipment, components and operations
• Experience with communication protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, CAN, RS-485, and Ethernet

Your Benefits:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $74,200 - $124,300 in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Company Culture

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied! Building a more sustainable planet. Creating comfortable, healthy spaces for people to connect, live and work. Perfecting the air we share. Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. And we are honored to say we were named to Forbes' America's Best-In-State Employers list for 2025, ranking #1 in Minnesota for Manufacturing and Engineering. You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job. Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams. As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization. Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.