Lead Controls Engineer

ENGIE North America Inc.; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Disability insurance

ESPP

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Job summary

ENGIE North America Inc. seeks a Lead Controls Engineer in the Iowa City area to guide a growing controls team across campus utility operations. You will lead, design, and optimize ICS, SCADA, PLC, and HMI systems, while aligning safety, reliability, and cybersecurity with campus stakeholders.

You will mentor engineers, develop roadmaps for modernization, and produce engineering docs and standards. This role demands strong leadership and hands-on OT experience in a large campus environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of industrial controls, automation, or ICS experience.
• 2+ years of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience with ICS, automation platforms, networks, and supporting infrastructure in operating environments.
• Hands-on PLC programming, HMI, SCADA, historians, instrumentation, commissioning and field support.
• Experience with Windows Server environments, virtualization, industrial networking equipment, patching, backups, and endpoint security in OT/ICS.
• Military experience in controls, automation, instrumentation, or OT is valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of controls engineers and interns.
• Serve as the senior technical resource for ICS, SCADA, PLC, HMI, data historians, and related platforms.
• Maintain and optimize control system hardware, software, networks, servers, and apps; provide training and guidance.
• Develop roadmaps for upgrades, standardization, modernization, lifecycle management.
• Create and maintain technical docs, diagrams, and engineering standards.
• Collaborate with ENGIE IT, cybersecurity, operations, and stakeholders for reliability and compliance.
• Support capital projects to improve reliability, cybersecurity, and system performance.

Skills

Team leadership

ICS/SCADA/PLC

PLC programming

SCADA systems

OT cybersecurity awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Associate degree + 8+ years experience

Tools

Windows Server

Virtualization

Industrial networking equipment

System patching

Job description

Lead Controls Engineer at ENGIE North America Inc. in IOWA CITY, United States, 52242. Permanent, Full-Time.

What You Can Expect

At ENGIE, we believe reliable energy infrastructure is the foundation of a better world. We partner with institutions like the University of Iowa to operate complex utility systems that support healthcare, research, and campus life.

As a Lead Controls Engineer, you will serve as the senior technical resource for the industrial control systems, networks, applications, and infrastructure that support utility operations across campus. In this hands‑on leadership role, you will lead and develop a growing controls engineering team while helping ensure the reliability, security, and long‑term performance of critical operational technology systems.

You will work across multiple utility plants, campus buildings, electrical distribution infrastructure, metering systems, and other mission‑critical services. This role is ideal for an experienced controls professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, driving continuous improvement, establishing engineering standards, and shaping the future of automation and control system operations.

What You Will Do

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of controls engineers, entry-level staff, and interns supporting utility operations across campus while assessing staffing, training, maintenance, and support needs to enhance team effectiveness and system performance
• Serve as the senior technical resource for industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA, PLC, HMI, data historian, metering, and related operational technology platforms
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize control system hardware, software, networks, servers, and applications while providing advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, technical guidance, and training to engineering and maintenance teams
• Evaluate existing control systems and develop roadmaps for system upgrades, standardization, modernization, lifecycle management, and long‑term controls strategy
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, maintenance plans, work instructions, and engineering standards that support safe, reliable, and consistent operations
• Partner with ENGIE IT, cybersecurity teams, operations personnel, maintenance teams, and University stakeholders to support system reliability, compliance, and operational readiness
• Support capital projects and identify opportunities to improve reliability, cybersecurity, standardization, and future system performance

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical field with a minimum of seven (7) years of industrial controls, automation, or industrial control systems (ICS) experience; OR an associate degree in a related technical field with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience
• Minimum two (2) years of supervisory, leadership, or team development experience
• Experience with industrial control systems, automation platforms, industrial networks, and supporting infrastructure in operating industrial environments
• Hands‑on experience with PLC programming, HMI development, SCADA systems, data historians, instrumentation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and field support
• Experience supporting Windows Server environments, virtualization platforms, industrial networking equipment, system patching, backups, endpoint security, and cybersecurity practices within an OT or ICS environment
• Ability to develop and interpret technical documentation, network architecture diagrams, maintenance procedures, and engineering standards while effectively managing competing operational and project priorities
• Experience gained through military service in controls, automation, instrumentation, industrial maintenance, power generation, operational technology (OT), cybersecurity, communications systems, utilities, or other mission‑critical technical environments is highly valued. Veterans often bring transferable technical expertise, leadership, problem‑solving, and operational discipline that align well with the responsibilities of this role. ENGIE encourages qualified veterans and transitioning service members to apply

Additional Details

• This role requires attendance at a worksite on a daily basis - Work schedule is generally Monday through Friday during day‑shift hours
• This position may require occasional after‑hours support for critical operational issues
• Travel may be required up to approximately 10‑15%, primarily for training, vendor support, or technical development
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license and be able to operate company vehicles on and around campus and plant sites
• Must be willing and able to comply with all ENGIE ethics, safety, and operational policies
• Ability to work in both office and industrial field environments, including climbing stairs and ladders and working around variable temperatures, weather conditions, and moderate noise, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., with or without reasonable accommodation

Compensation

Salary Range: $102,000 - $156,400 USD annually

This represents the average expected pay range for a qualified candidate. ENGIE complies with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws. Actual salary offered may vary depending on geography, experience, education, internal pay alignment, or other bona fide factors.

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for a competitive bonus / incentive plan.

Your Talent Acquisition Partner can share more specific information regarding the benefits or the salary for the position based on the work location.

At ENGIE, we take your well‑being seriously. Our comprehensive benefits package includes options for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, employer‑paid short‑term and long‑term disability insurance, ESPP, generous paid time off including wellness days, holidays and leave programs. We also help you plan for retirement by offering a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a company match. But that's not all - we're dedicated to the health and happiness of your entire family, offering supplemental benefits for full time employees that enhance emotional and physical well‑being through all stages of life from family forming to caregiver benefits. Explore our benefits package to see how we can support you. Learn more.

Why ENGIE?

ENGIE North America isn't just participating in the Zero‑Carbon Transition, we're leading it! Join us as we develop energy that is renewable, efficient, and accessible to everyone.

At ENGIE, every talent has a role to play in the adventure of the century. Make a difference and enjoy a fulfilling professional experience. Take on exciting challenges and build a career path that reflects who you are.

Join us and be part of the adventure!

In 2020 The University of Iowa (UI) entered a 50‑year, trailblazing partnership with the University of Iowa Energy Collaborative (UIEC), a joint venture between ENGIE, Meridiam, and Hannon Armstrong, to operate, maintain and enhance the university's Utility System. As the founding member of this joint venture, ENGIE designs, builds, operates, and maintains the energy infrastructure delivering safe, reliable, cost‑effective, and sustainable energy solutions in producing and distributing steam, electricity, chilled water, and domestic water to the main campus in Iowa City, Iowa and a nearby satellite campus.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

ENGIE is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, and we are firmly committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees. We are committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this role at any time.

The safety of our employees is our number one priority. All employees at ENGIE have both a duty and the authority to STOP WORK if unsafe acts are observed.

Contact for Disability Accommodation

If you need assistance with this application or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail]. This email address is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry regarding positions or application status.

Company Values

L'inclusion et la diversite sont au cur de notre politique de ressources humaines. Nous assurons l'egalite des chances entre tous les candidats et sommes engages a creer l'environnement de travail le plus accessible possible.