Principal Controls Engineer

E-Solutions Inc.; Indianapolis, Northern (IN, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

E-Solutions Inc. in Indianapolis, IN seeks a Principal Controls Engineer to lead architecture, PLC programming standards, HMI design, and cyber and networking practices. You will guide software, electrical and integrated design reviews, and drive secure, scalable control platforms through testing and commissioning.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in controls, Rockwell Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View, and strong mentoring and documentation skills, with travel to customer sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Typically 10+ years of progressive controls and automation experience
• Experience with regulated or validated equipment is preferred

Responsibilities

• Define standard automation architectures for hot cells, Glycol Systems, Deicing Solutions, and related platforms
• Translate requirements and FDS content into complete controls design packages and test plans
• Lead software, electrical, controls, and integrated design reviews for testability and security
• Develop simulation, emulation, and automated-test practices to improve quality before FAT
• Lead troubleshooting, commissioning, and root-cause investigations to drive platform improvements

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Controls architecture

Rockwell Studio 5000

Industrial networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

## Principal Controls EngineerApply: Indianapolis, IN (MEP-SOL): Full time: Posted 6 Days Ago: JR108350**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 escalate 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 Responsibilitie**s· 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 Interface**s· 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 Abilitie**s· 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 Experienc**e· 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 Measure**s· 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