Principal Controls Engineer

E Solutions, LLC; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

E Solutions, LLC seeks a senior automation engineer to drive standards for control systems across hot cells, deicing and related platforms. You will define architectures, PLC/HMI methods, diagnostics, and cybersecurity practices, coordinating across engineering teams to deliver scalable, testable solutions.

You will mentor engineers, review designs, and push reusable platforms through multiple product cycles while ensuring compliance with regulatory expectations and project timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Typically 10+ years of progressive controls and automation experience.
• Experience with regulated, validated equipment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define standard automation architectures for hot cells, glycol systems, deicing solutions, and related platforms.
• Establish PLC programming standards, reusable libraries, state models, sequencing methods, alarm strategies, diagnostics, and documentation.
• Set HMI standards for navigation, visualization, alarms, user guidance, security, trends, recipes, and maintenance.
• Define industrial network architecture, device integration, remote I/O, data exchange, cybersecurity, backup, restore, and remote-access practices.
• Translate requirements into complete control design packages, software designs, I/O definitions, interfaces, test plans, and controlled releases.
• Lead design reviews and ensure testability, maintainability, security, and supportability of systems.
• Develop simulation, emulation, code-review, automated-test, and version-control practices to improve FAT quality.
• Lead troubleshooting, commissioning, and root-cause investigations; formalize lessons into platform improvements.
• Mentor engineers and technicians through reviews, coaching, standards development and documentation.
• Evaluate technology and recommend adoption based on value, lifecycle support, cybersecurity, and cost.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI

Controls architecture

Electrical design

Industrial networking

System integration

Sequencing

Rockwell Automation

Studio 5000

FactoryTalk View

AutoCAD Electrical

Instrumentation

I/O

Drives

Motors

Valves

Pneumatics

Safety circuits

Interlocks

Alarms

Recipes

Data systems

Schematics interpretation

Mentoring

Technical writing

Troubleshooting

Customer-facing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

10+ years controls and automation experience

Experience with regulated equipment (pharma/radiopharma) preferred

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Rockwell Studio 5000

FactoryTalk View

Job description

Scope and Decision Rights

• Lead assigned technical reviews and make release-readiness recommendations within delegated authority.
• Establish and maintain recommended architecture, programming, HMI, network, cybersecurity, testing, and documentation practices approved by the Manager.
• Identify and elevate technical, safety, quality, cybersecurity, schedule, or lifecycle risks.
• Stop or delay assigned technical work when released requirements, review evidence, test readiness, or safety controls are inadequate.
• Mentor and provide technical direction without assuming people-management authority unless formally assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Define standard automation architectures for hot cells, Glycol Systems, Deicing Solutions, and related product platforms.
• Establish PLC programming standards, reusable libraries, state models, sequencing methods, alarm strategies, diagnostics, tag structures, and software-documentation requirements.
• Establish HMI standards for navigation, visualization, alarms, operator guidance, security, trends, recipes, maintenance, and user experience.
• Define industrial network architecture, device integration, remote I/O, communications, data exchange, cybersecurity, backup, restore, and remote-access practices.
• Translate functional requirements and FDS content into complete controls design packages, software designs, I/O definitions, interface documents, test plans, and controlled releases.
• Lead software, electrical, controls, and integrated design reviews and confirm systems are testable, maintainable, serviceable, secure, and supportable.
• Develop simulation, emulation, code-review, automated-test, and version-control practices that improve quality before FAT.
• Lead difficult troubleshooting, commissioning, and root-cause investigations and convert lessons into controlled platform improvements.
• Mentor engineers and technicians through reviews, pairing, coaching, standards development, and practical instruction.
• Evaluate technology and recommend adoption based on business value, lifecycle support, cybersecurity, availability, standardization, and cost.

Working Interfaces

• Director, Automation & Electrical Systems: strategy, priorities, budget, staffing, department performance, capacity, major technical risk, and escalation.
• Product Management: product requirements, roadmap priorities, standard-versus-custom decisions, cost targets, and product performance.
• Product Design & Engineering: equipment functions, physical interfaces, sensor and actuator requirements, safety devices, pneumatics, serviceability, and integrated design reviews.
• Panel Shop: released schematics, panel layouts, BOMs, component requirements, UL considerations, technical clarifications, redlines, and controlled changes.
• Electrical Integration: released wiring packages, cable schedules, I/O definitions, device requirements, checkout support, energization readiness, and as-built feedback.
• Project Management: estimates, assumptions, schedules, technical status, risks, changes, customer technical communication, and recovery actions.
• cGMP & Acceptance Testing: FDS content, traceability, FAT/SAT support, approved software versions, deviations, test evidence, and turnover records.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Expert PLC programming, HMI, controls architecture, electrical design, industrial networking, system integration, and machine/process sequencing knowledge.
• Advanced Rockwell Automation, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View, or equivalent platform proficiency.
• Strong instrumentation, I/O, drives, motors, valves, pneumatics, safety circuits, interlocks, alarms, recipes, and data-system knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to create reusable software, standard architectures, test methods, and maintainable design practices.
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD Electrical.
• Ability to interpret schematics, panel layouts, P&IDs, sequence documents, mechanical designs, and customer requirements.
• Strong mentoring, technical writing, troubleshooting, communication, and customer-facing capability.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Typically 10 or more years of progressive controls and automation experience with recent hands-on responsibility for complex industrial systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing, commissioning, documenting, and improving reusable automation platforms through multiple product or project cycles.
• Experience with regulated, validated, pharmaceutical, radiopharmaceutical, or similarly controlled equipment is preferred.

Success Measures

• Automation platforms are reusable, maintainable, documented, testable, secure, and scalable.
• FAT readiness improves through simulation, disciplined reviews, and standardized testing.
• Software defects, commissioning time, field issues, and configuration errors decrease.
• Engineers and technicians show measurable growth in architecture, programming, troubleshooting, documentation, and design ownership.
• Lessons become controlled standards, libraries, and retained organizational knowledge.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Prolonged computer, programming, and technical-review work.
• Regular presence in Panel Shop, equipment assembly, testing, and production areas.
• Travel to customer sites for commissioning and critical issue resolution.
• Compliance with PPE, electrical safety, lockout/tagout, cybersecurity, and site requirements.

E Solutions was built in response to customers seeking a smarter, more sustainable "green" approach to industrial systems. From day one, we've been committed not only to meeting those needs, but to exceeding them. Our team brings decades of experience in automation, HVAC, and contracting, with experts in mechanical, chemical, electrical, and environmental engineering. This diverse expertise allows us to design, install, and integrate a wide range of industrial systems, delivering solutions that are highly capable, cost-efficient, and user-friendly. Whether it's aircraft de-icing, security systems, or specialized controls, we create the tools our customers need to operate seamlessly. To keep things running at peak performance, we also provide preventative maintenance and alert monitoring services. As a proud division of MEP Holdings a company with more than 500 employees E Solutions combines deep industry knowledge with the resources of a larger network to deliver reliable, innovative results.