Principal, Process Controls Engineer

BW Design Group; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Group is seeking a Principal Process Controls Engineer to lead process control systems projects with a focus on FactoryTalk Batch, PlantPAx and ISA-88 standards. You will guide teams through design, startup, and client handover while ensuring safety, quality, and budget compliance.

You will mentor engineers, develop firmwide standards, and partner with clients to deliver world-class outcomes. Significant travel to installations and client engagement is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive process controls engineering experience with leadership and client-facing responsibilities.
• Mastery of FactoryTalk Batch, Rockwell PlantPAx, and ISA-88 (S88) batch control standards.
• Significant experience with instrumentation, industrial networking, PLC/SCADA architectures and integration.
• Proven history leading teams to deliver automation projects on time and within budget.
• Excellent communication skills for executive and plant-level audiences; travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME and technical authority for process control systems across projects.
• Lead project teams through full automation life cycle from design to startup and handover.
• Ensure quality, schedule, cost targets, and regulatory and safety compliance.
• Mentor engineers and uplift organizational technical capabilities.
• Develop and implement firmwide standards and best practices for controls.
• Engage clients to define requirements and build trusted, long-term relationships.
• Support business development, opportunity reviews, and proposals for complex projects.

Skills

FactoryTalk Batch

PlantPAx

ISA-88

Instrumentation

Industrial Networking

PLC/SCADA

Team Leadership

Client Communication

Education

Electrical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

PE preferred

Tools

Rockwell Automation

PlantPAx System

Job description

Who You'll Work With

You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as a Principal Process Controls Engineer, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. Design Group is widely known as an industry leader, recognized as a top system integrator, ranking #9 in the 2025 System Integrator Giants; as a Rockwell Platinum Integrator, the highest designation given to Rockwell partners; and as an Ignition Enterprise Premier Integrator. As a part of this team, you will learn from industry leading experts and may even have the chance to be an active participant in industry events like the Ignition Build-A-Thon which Design Group won in 2023!

What You'll Do

• 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 (S88) batch controls.
• Spearhead project teams through complex automation project life cycles, ensuring technical excellence and accountability across all phases - from conceptual design to site startup and client handover. Ensure that project delivery meets quality, schedule, and cost targets and that solutions comply with all regulatory, safety, and security standards.
• Mentor, develop, and review the work of engineers at all levels, elevating the technical expertise of the organization.
• 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 based on trust and delivery of world-class outcomes.
• Champion client-focused innovation, evaluating new technologies and creative approaches to deliver exceptional value, quality, and performance.
• Participate in business development strategy, project opportunity reviews, and proposal preparation for high-value and complex projects.

What You'll Bring

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive process controls engineering experience, including significant leadership roles and client-facing responsibilities in manufacturing environments.
• Mastery of FactoryTalk Batch, Rockwell PlantPAx, and thorough understanding and application of ISA-88 (S88) 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, engage with clients at executive and plant levels, and convey complex technical information clearly to all audiences.
• Experience with proposal development, project estimation, and scope definition for controls projects.
• Aptitude for troubleshooting, creative problem solving, and delivering innovative technical solutions in demanding environments.
• Recognition as a technical leader or subject matter expert in professional or industry settings; participation in conferences or standards committees is a plus.
• Willingness to travel as required for project and client needs, including installations, startup support, strategic meetings, training, and industry events.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering (Master's and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred).

Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As a Principal Process Controls Engineer, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world-class engineer and a highly effective leader.