Senior Controls Engineer

LAPORTE; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Compensatory PTO

Flexible work environment

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

LAPORTE is seeking a senior controls engineering leader to drive the design and integration of control panels, industrial networks, and electrical installations for pharma and food & beverage projects in a hybrid Columbus-based role.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with process, mechanical and electrical teams, and provide PLC/HMI programming along with site commissioning support. This role requires an electrical/related engineering degree and 8+ years of experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
• 8+ years of control-systems experience in manufacturing or consulting environments.
• Proficiency withAutoCAD for control-panel design and electrical construction packages.
• Experience with Rockwell Studio 5000/RSLogix 5000 and FactoryTalk View ME/SE.

Responsibilities

• Develop coordinated panel and field-installation packages with layouts, schematics and I/O schedules.
• Design industrial-network topology and coordinate interfaces with the installation package.
• Survey existing installations and document field conditions for as-built designs.
• Coordinate with engineers, vendors and contractors; prepare specs and bid packages.
• Own the controls design basis; review drawings for consistency and constructability.
• Provide PLC/HMI programming and lifecycle support including commissioning.
• Apply NEC and UL 508A standards where applicable.

Skills

Leadership

Vendor coordination

Troubleshooting

Education

Electrical/Mechanical/Chemical Engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD

Rockwell Studio 5000/RSLogix 5000

FactoryTalk View ME/SE

Job description

Location: Columbus, Ohio (Hybrid)

Employment type: Full-time

Lead the controls engineering design scope for pharmaceutical and food & beverage facility projects. Own the technical quality and coordination of control-panel, industrial-network and electrical installation packages. Combine hands‑on design with technical reviews, resolution of client and vendor interfaces, and mentoring of engineers through construction and commissioning support.

What you will deliver

• Develop coordinated panel and field‑installation packages, including equipment and panel layouts, schematics, wiring and termination details, cable lists, and I/O schedules.
• Design and document industrial‑network topology and physical connections; coordinate instrument, panel and equipment interfaces with the installation package.
• Survey existing installations, document field conditions, and incorporate verified information into design and as‑built documents.
• Coordinate with process, mechanical and electrical engineers, equipment vendors, panel fabricators and installation contractors; prepare specifications and bid‑package information.
• Own the controls design basis and package completeness; review drawings, specifications and schedules for technical consistency and constructability, and mentor engineers through reviews.
• Provide PLC/HMI programming and project lifecycle support, including troubleshooting, testing, installation and commissioning, with design changes reflected in the final documents.
• Apply relevant project codes and standards, including NEC and UL 508A where applicable.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
• 8+ years of control‑systems experience in manufacturing or consulting‑design environments, including commissioning experience.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for control‑panel design and electrical construction packages.
• Experience with control‑panel and industrial‑network design, component and instrument selection, and coordination of drawings and schedules for fabrication and installation.
• Hands‑on experience with Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000 and FactoryTalk View ME/SE for PLC, HMI and SCADA project work.
• Ability to survey existing systems, coordinate clients and vendors, and prepare design and bid packages. Coordinate single‑line diagrams, panel schedules and power‑plan interfaces with the electrical engineering team.
• Experience owning and reviewing coordinated controls packages, resolving design interfaces, and guiding other engineers.

Preferred Experience

• Experience leading commissioning activities.

Hybrid work and project travel

This is an office‑based hybrid role with remote work and project‑site assignments. Office attendance is coordinated with the project team. Travel is anticipated to be 20–40%, depending on project requirements. Initial site visits typically last 1–3 days; commissioning assignments may last 1–4 weeks.

The salary for this position is between $80,000-$130,000, contingent upon the candidate’s experience and demonstrated technical proficiency.

About LAPORTE

Founded in 1999, LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm serving pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and industrial manufacturing clients across North America and Europe.

We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, compensatory paid time off (PTO), a flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.

The LAPORTE team