Lead Process Controls Engineer — Automation Innovator & Mentor

BW Design Group; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Group is seeking a Principal Process Controls Engineer to lead advanced automation projects for manufacturing clients. You will collaborate with senior engineers, technical specialists, and clients to deliver innovative control system solutions and set engineering standards.

You will mentor teams, drive project execution from concept through startup, and ensure quality, schedule, and cost targets while maintaining regulatory and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive process controls engineering experience with leadership and client-facing responsibilities in manufacturing environments.
• Mastery of FactoryTalk Batch, Rockwell PlantPAx, and ISA-88 batch process control standards.
• Substantial experience with process instrumentation, industrial networking, PLC/SCADA architectures, and integration with process systems.
• Demonstrated history of leading teams in the successful delivery of automation projects.
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to inspire teams and convey complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Experience with proposal development, project estimation, and scope definition for controls projects.
• Aptitude for troubleshooting, creative problem solving, and delivering innovative technical solutions.
• Engineering degree with PE preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical authority for the firm for process control systems, with mastery in FactoryTalk Batch, PlantPAx, and ISA-88 batch controls.
• Spearhead project teams through complex automation project life cycles, ensuring quality, schedule, and cost targets and compliance with regulatory, safety, and security standards.
• Mentor, develop, and review the work of engineers at all levels to elevate technical capability.
• Support the development and implementation of firmwide standards and best practices for process automation and controls in manufacturing environments.
• Partner directly with key clients to understand needs, define project requirements, articulate solutions, and build lasting relationships.
• Champion client-focused innovation, evaluating new technologies to deliver value, quality, and performance.
• Participate in business development strategy, project opportunity reviews, and proposal preparation for high-value projects.

Skills

FactoryTalk Batch

Rockwell PlantPAx

ISA-88 (S88)

Process instrumentation

Industrial networking

PLC/SCADA architectures

Leadership

Client-facing

Project management

Education

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

Master’s and/or Professional Engineer license preferred

Tools

Rockwell Automation

PlantPAx

FactoryTalk Batch

Job description

Design Group is seeking a Principal Process Controls Engineer to lead advanced automation projects for manufacturing clients. You will collaborate with senior engineers, technical specialists, and clients to deliver innovative control system solutions and set engineering standards.

You will mentor teams, drive project execution from concept through startup, and ensure quality, schedule, and cost targets while maintaining regulatory and safety compliance.