Senior Control Systems Engineer

HDR; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Senior Control Systems Engineer to lead planning, design, and implementation of automated industrial control systems across multiple market sectors. You will develop schematics, P&IDs, and construction documents while coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and clients.

Ideal candidates bring a PE license, 10+ years of control systems experience, and strong communication skills. This on-site role supports HDR's Building Engineering Services and collaborates across a national

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field is required.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products is required.
• Strong commitment to HDR's employee-owned culture is essential.
• Minimum 10 years of applicable experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Travel to client facilities to participate in field activities and assess current control systems.
• Lead design reviews and planning meetings with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop preliminary engineering reports and recommended solutions for control systems improvements.
• Serve as Engineer of Record for development of control system construction documents (P&IDs, diagrams, specs).
• Coordinate with project manager and section manager to update workplans and track budget and schedule for the control systems team.
• Interface with Electrical, Process, and Cybersecurity specialists to coordinate network, power, and instrumentation requirements.

Skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Documentation ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next‑generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence.

HDR is looking for a Senior Control Systems Engineer to serve in a project leadership role in support of our national Control Systems practice which includes full-service capabilities. Our practice provides assessment, planning, design, automation programming/configuration, testing & commissioning, and maintenance for control systems in multiple industries.

The primary role of this position will involve leading the planning, design, and implementation of automated industrial control systems in coordination with clients and multidiscipline teams to develop solutions for construction and implementation in multiple market sectors including the following: food/beverage, oil/gas, logistics, manufacturing, mining, general industrial, transportation, and water/wastewater.

This position involves exercising judgment in evaluation and selection of equipment and system components and coordinating closely with multidiscipline design teams through all stages of design including schematic, design development, and construction documents. This individual will be responsible for creating biddable and technically accurate construction documents including drawings and specifications, as well as conducting reviews of documents for areas of conflict with all disciplines. They will also be involved in coordination during construction phase activities including the review of shop drawings and construction observation. On a day-to-day basis, they'll also be expected to:

• Travel to client facilities to participate in field activities to assess and document the current state of installed control systems.
• Participate in and lead design review and planning meetings with the client.
• Lead the development of preliminary engineering reports and studies focused on recommending and developing solutions for improvements to client control systems.
• Serve as Engineer of Record in responsible charge for the development of biddable and technically accurate control system construction documents.
• Coordinate with project manager and section manager to update workplans for control systems staff assigned to your project, and to track budget and schedule performance for the control systems team.
• Interface with Electrical, Process, and Cybersecurity specialists to fully coordinate design requirements for network, power, control, and instrumentation.
• Participate in joint scoping and proposal development working with clients and marketing staff.
• Participate in the planning and specification of applied technology solutions including instrumentation and control, advanced automation and control, artificial intelligence, networking, data management & analytics, augmented reality, and vision control.
• Lead the selection and specification of facility and process instrumentation, control panels, and network equipment.
• Lead the development of biddable and technically accurate control system construction documents including P&IDs, process flow diagrams, network architecture diagrams, control panel layouts and wiring diagrams, installation details, loop drawings, and technical specifications.
• Provide Quality Control (QC) reviews of control system designs.
• Participate in system testing and commissioning activities.
• Contribute to Control System Technical Leadership Team and drive corporate initiatives for quality and strategic growth within the Control Systems Discipline.
• Actively participate in industry professional societies to contribute to the development of standards, participate in the development and delivery of presentations and whitepapers at industry trade shows and conferences, and develop article content for general industry and market sector specific newsletters and periodicals.
• Gain exposure to multiple market sectors and core services of our global control systems program.
• Train and develop to build a skillset to serve as market sector and core service subject matter expert (SME).
• Mentor junior staff and assist section manager in identifying development opportunities to achieve team goals and objectives.
• Develop a skillset to serve as Design Manager on mid-scale, large scale, or complex control systems projects, responsible for leading day-to-day design activities to achieve project milestones.
• Develop a skillset to serve as Project Manager on control systems projects with responsibility to lead multi‑discipline teams to achieve project objectives including scope, schedule, budget, and quality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience with an A&E/Consulting Engineering firm
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience designing Control Systems, including schematics and loops
• Network design experience for industrial control or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
• Knowledge of remote site telemetry communications
• Knowledge of cybersecurity considerations for industrial control or SCADA systems
• Experience in water / wastewater a plus
• Experience in building management/building automation a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication and documentation skills
• Preference will be given to local candidates

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• A minimum of 10 years applicable experience

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location: United States-North Carolina-Charlotte Other Locations:United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem, United States-Georgia-Atlanta Industry:Building Engineering Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Control Systems and OT Cybersecurity Job Posting:Oct 13, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affiliation? (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.