Principal Controls Engineer

Design Hire LLC; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Hire LLC in Indianapolis is seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to shape the technical direction of the Controls & Automation group and mentor a team delivering high-quality automation solutions.

You will lead Rockwell PLC programming, develop standardized libraries, and establish scalable control architectures to improve reliability and maintainability across complex manufacturing systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, or related engineering field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in controls engineering and PLC-based system development.
• Experience creating controls standards, shared libraries, and engineering workflows from scratch.
• Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical, including standardized design resources.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley hardware and Studio 5000 Logix Designer.
• Strong knowledge of PLC architecture, reusable programming methods, HMI development, and industrial communications.
• Proven ability to mentor engineers, deliver technical training, and drive engineering standards across a team.
• Design Hire is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Aff

Responsibilities

• Lead Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLC Programming using Studio 5000 Logix Designer, developing reliable control solutions.
• Build and maintain AutoCAD Electrical Standards & Shared Library Development resources, including standardized symbols and panel design documentation.
• Establish PLC Programming Standards & Controls Architecture from the ground up, including AOIs and reusable libraries.
• Develop FactoryTalk View / HMI applications and lead Industrial Networking & System Integration.
• Direct PLC Testing, Commissioning & Troubleshooting while developing standards and training engineers.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering

Tools

Studio 5000 Logix Designer

AutoCAD Electrical

Allen-Bradley hardware

Rockwell Automation platforms

Job description

Indianapolis, United States | Posted on 10/15/2026

Our client is a forward-thinking industrial automation organization focused on developing reliable, scalable control systems for complex manufacturing and industrial operations. The Principal Controls Engineer will help establish the technical foundation of the Controls & Automation group by building standardized engineering resources and repeatable workflows that strengthen team performance. This role offers the opportunity to shape technical direction, improve engineering consistency, and mentor a team responsible for delivering high-quality automation solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLC Programming using Studio 5000 Logix Designer, developing reliable control solutions for industrial equipment and automated systems.

Build and maintain AutoCAD Electrical Standards & Shared Library Development resources, including standardized symbols, templates, electrical schematics, and panel design documentation.

Establish PLC Programming Standards & Controls Architecture from the ground up, including the development of Add‑On Instructions (AOI) and reusable programming libraries.

Develop FactoryTalk View / HMI applications and lead Industrial Networking & System Integration to support communication between control systems, equipment, and operator interfaces.

Direct PLC Testing, Commissioning & Troubleshooting while developing technical standards, standardizing engineering workflows, documenting best practices, and training engineers to implement systems and libraries consistently.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

10+ years of progressive experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, and PLC‑based system development.

Demonstrated experience creating controls standards, shared libraries, and engineering workflows from scratch rather than simply applying existing frameworks.

Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical, including the creation and organization of standardized design resources.

Extensive hands‑on experience with Allen‑Bradley hardware, Rockwell automation platforms, and Studio 5000 Logix Designer.

Strong knowledge of PLC architecture, reusable programming methods, HMI development, and industrial communication systems.

Proven ability to mentor engineers, deliver technical training, and drive consistent implementation of engineering standards across a team.

Experience providing technical leadership, resolving complex automation challenges, and improving the reliability and maintainability of control systems.

Design Hire is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Aff

Employment Eligibility if hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.