Lead Controls Engineer

LVI Associates; Village of Fairport (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates seeks an experienced Lead Controls Engineer to lead design, programming, commissioning, and support of custom automation systems across the full project lifecycle in the United States. You will guide project teams, develop controls architectures, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Responsibilities include designing electrical and control systems, reviewing schematics and BOMs, programming PLCs/HMI, and commissioning equipment with site acceptance testing.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Technology, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in controls engineering within industrial automation or custom machinery.
• 4+ of the following Hardware Design skills: standards, power, enclosure heat, SCCR, fluid power, SISTEMA safety.
• 3+ of the following Programming skills: PLC/HMI programming, vision systems, industrial protocols, technical supervision.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering activities on complex automation projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Develop machine controls architecture and software architecture.
• Design electrical and controls systems using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Create and review schematics, control panels, network layouts, and BOMs.
• Program and debug PLCs, HMIs, robots, vision systems, and industrial networks.
• Commission equipment and support factory/site acceptance testing.
• Collaborate with mechanical, software, and build teams throughout project execution.
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements and applicable industry standards.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Project leadership

Independent work

Time management

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Seeking an experienced Lead Controls Engineer to lead the design, programming, commissioning, and support of custom automation systems and machinery. This role involves working across the full project lifecycle, from concept and design through installation and startup.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering activities on complex automation projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Develop machine controls architecture and software architecture.
• Design electrical and controls systems using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Create and review schematics, control panels, network layouts, and bills of materials.
• Program and debug PLCs, HMIs, robots, vision systems, and industrial networks.
• Commission equipment and support factory and site acceptance testing.
• Collaborate with mechanical, software, and build teams throughout project execution.
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements and applicable industry standards.

Requirements

Education

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Technology, or equivalent experience.

Experience

• 10+ years in controls engineering within industrial automation or custom machinery.

4 or more of the following Hardware Design skills:

• NFP79, UL508a, CE, CSA standards
• Power calculations (AC 3phase, AC 1phase, DC 5-90V, Transformers)
• Enclosure Heat calculations
• SCCR calculations
• Fluid Power flow calculations
• SISTEMA safety calculations
• Technical Supervision (5+ years)

and 3 or more of the following Programming skills:

• PLC Programming (Rockwell, Siemens, and/or Omron)
• HMI Programming (Rockwell, Siemens, and/or Omron)
• Vision Systems (Cognex, Keyence, Matrox, and/or Teledyne Dalsa)
• Industrial Protocols (Ethernet/IP, ProfiNet, EtherCat, and/or IOLink)
• Technical Supervision (5+ years)

Skills

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and lead project teams.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and innovative.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.