Lead Electrical Controls Engineer

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Flexible scheduling

401(k)

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Job summary

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Controls Engineer in Carlsbad, California. This role involves leading the design and optimization of control-system architectures for automated processes in public infrastructure. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 3+ years of experience in automation. Strong PLC, HMI, and SCADA system expertise is required along with leadership capabilities. The position offers a full-time opportunity with a potential hybrid work structure and comprehensive benefits including performance incentives and 401(k).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in automation or controls engineering.
• Extensive hands-on experience with PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to mentor teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and standardization of control systems for industrial platforms.
• Oversee configuration and deployment of HMI/SCADA systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide technical staff.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables and documentation.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA system design

Leadership and mentorship

Control system architecture

Industrial networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Engineering

Tools

Wonderware/AVEVA

FactoryTalk

WinCC

iFix

Job description

This role centers on leading the design, development, and optimization of control-system architectures for complex automated processes supporting public infrastructure and large-scale municipal operations. The Lead Controls Engineer is responsible for driving technical direction across the full project lifecycle—from concept and system design through implementation, commissioning, and long-term optimization. This position also provides leadership to engineering teams, ensuring best practices in PLC programming, SCADA integration, industrial networking, and advanced automation technologies are consistently applied across projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and standardization of PLC-based control systems across major industrial platforms (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Modicon, GE, or equivalent).
• Oversee configuration and deployment of HMI/SCADA systems, including platforms such as Wonderware/AVEVA, FactoryTalk, WinCC, iFix, or similar.
• Establish and enforce control system standards, coding practices, and documentation protocols across projects.
• Drive development of data acquisition, alarm management, and reporting systems to support operational visibility and analytics.
• Provide technical leadership during system integration, site deployment, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and technical staff, supporting skill development and project execution.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and clients to ensure project scope, performance objectives, and regulatory requirements are achieved.
• Oversee industrial communication networks, telemetry systems, and distributed control system (DCS) integrations.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables including system architectures, control narratives, schematics, and project documentation.
• Support project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (preferred).
• 3+ years of experience in automation, controls engineering, or a related technical field.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with PLC, HMI, and SCADA system design and programming.
• Strong understanding of control system architecture, industrial networking, and system integration.
• Demonstrated leadership experience or the ability to lead projects and mentor engineering teams.
• Experience in municipal or mission‑critical environments (water/wastewater, utilities, transportation systems, etc.) is highly preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 25% as required for project support.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and fluent in English.

Additional Details

This is a full-time opportunity offering competitive compensation, performance-based incentives, and strong benefits including bonus eligibility, overtime, flexible scheduling, long‑term disability insurance, 401(k), medical/dental/vision coverage, and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The role may be structured as on‑site or hybrid depending on project requirements and candidate location.