Senior Controls Engineer

| GrayMatter |; Ashland (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Short-term disability & life insurance

Paid holidays

Job summary

GrayMatter in Ashland, Virginia seeks a Senior Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of complex industrial automation solutions. You will apply expertise across SCADA, HMI, PLC, and MES to optimize client operations, mentor engineers, and drive continuous improvement.

This role requires 7–10 years of automation experience, strong architecture skills, and the ability to manage projects and collaborate with customers and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (or associate with 4+ years in field).
• 7–10 years of industrial automation engineering experience.
• Advanced experience designing, programming, configuring, and troubleshooting SCADA/HMI/PLC/MES.
• Experience with GE iFIX, Historian or comparable platforms.
• Strong system architecture, integration, networking, and TCP/IP knowledge.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects and deliver on timelines.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills; customer relations focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, architecture, development, and implementation of automation solutions.
• Design, program, configure, test, document, and troubleshoot industrial systems.
• Deliver engineering services within budgets and timelines, meeting utilization targets.
• Collaborate with customers and internal stakeholders to define requirements.
• Lead technical project activities: reviews, testing, pilots, commissioning, demos.
• Coordinate resources with PMs and team leads; manage risks and scope changes.
• Provide technical support, training, and onsite/remote assistance.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote best practices.
• Support sales through technical consultations, proposals, and workshops.
• Develop reusable templates and standardized processes for quality and efficiency.

Skills

SCADA/HMI/PLC/MES

System architecture

Networking/TCP-IP

Project leadership

Customer collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Associate degree +4 years experience

Tools

GE iFIX

Historian

Rockwell

Siemens

Ignition

Wonderware

Job description

Who Is GrayMatter

We’re the Thinkers who make machines speak.

Who Is GrayMatter

We’re the Thinkers who make machines speak.

We’re the Doers who make their stories matter.

At GrayMatter, we uncover the industrial intelligence buried in clipboards, legacy systems, and human memory. We discover it, transform it, and turn it into insight. From the drill press to the boardroom, we help you think smarter and do better—by listening to the machines you already trust.

And that’s where you come in.

GrayMatter is dedicated to creating a team of unmatched talent in industrial technology. Our organizational culture encourages opportunities to learn and collaborate.

Six core values make Team GrayMatter stand above the rest: Bias to Action, Batteries Included, Unbounded Curiosity, Everybody Wins, Built to Last, Actionable Insight.

We are seeking a Senior Engineer to join our GrayMatter team and lead the design, development, and implementation of complex industrial automation solutions. This individual will apply advanced technical expertise across SCADA, HMI, PLC, and MES technologies to optimize client operations and deliver successful project outcomes. The Senior Engineer will work closely with customers, project teams, and business partners while providing technical leadership, mentoring engineers, and driving continuous improvement.

Location: Ashland, Virginia. This position requires approximately 30% travel, including occasional overnight stays.

General Job Duties

• Lead the technical design, system architecture, development, and implementation of complex industrial automation solutions while independently managing engineering assignments.
• Design, program, configure, test, document, and troubleshoot industrial software and hardware systems to meet customer requirements and engineering standards.
• Deliver high-quality engineering services within established project scopes, budgets, and timelines while meeting utilization expectations and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to assess operational needs, define technical requirements, and develop solutions that improve system performance and efficiency.
• Lead technical project activities, including design reviews, system testing, onsite pilots, commissioning, troubleshooting, and solution demonstrations.
• Collaborate with Project Managers and Engineering Team Leads to coordinate resources, monitor deliverables, manage technical risks, and identify potential scope changes.
• Provide technical support, training, and troubleshooting assistance to customers through onsite engagements, remote support, and application-specific guidance.
• Mentor less experienced engineers, share technical expertise, and promote engineering best practices to strengthen team capabilities and project execution.
• Support Sales and Commercial Operations through technical consultations, solution development, proposals, bills of materials, customer presentations, and workshops.
• Develop reusable code, engineering templates, and standardized processes to improve solution quality, project efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Needed

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field; or an associate degree with four additional years of relevant experience.
• 7–10 years of relevant industrial automation engineering experience in addition to applicable degree requirements.
• Advanced experience designing, programming, configuring, and troubleshooting SCADA, HMI, PLC, and/or MES systems.
• Experience with industrial software platforms such as GE iFIX, Historian, or comparable industrial automation technologies.
• Strong technical expertise in system architecture, industrial software and hardware integration, networking, and TCP/IP configurations.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex engineering projects while meeting technical requirements, project timelines, and professional services performance expectations.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and build strong customer relationships.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, collaborate across teams, and deliver customer-focused engineering solutions.

Preferred

• Hands-on experience delivering engineering solutions within a system integration, or professional services environment.
• Advanced technical certifications or specialized training in industrial automation software, hardware, or related technologies.
• Experience supporting technical proposals, solution demonstrations, commissioning, and customer-facing engineering engagements.
• Expert level implementation knowledge on two or more industrial platforms (Rockwell, Siemens, Modicon, GE iFix, Ignition, Wonderware, etc.)
• Solid understanding of electrical schematics and hands-on electrical installations experience.
• Advanced knowledge on virtualization, server management, database, networking, and IT/OT/Cyber topics

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Featured Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance starting day one
• Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• 401(k) with up to 4% company match
• Paid holidays and time off