Senior Controls Engineer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Lewiston (ID); On-site; USD 161,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Excellent benefits

12 days vacation

9 sick days

Training programs

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer for our Pullman, WA or Lewiston, ID site.

You will design and implement automated manufacturing solutions, mentor staff, and lead equipment concept development from ideation through commissioning. You will program PLCs (Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi), develop HMI layouts, integrate with MES, conveyors, robotics, and ensure NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliance in all electrical panels.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or related field; 12+ years in automation in manufacturing.
• Experience in designing and implementing automation solutions in manufacturing.
• Strong expertise with PLCs, HMI, safety systems, vision systems, and robotics integration.
• Familiarity with electrical prints and industrial standards.
• Excellent technical presentation and training skills.
• Proven ability to maintain structured and documented PLC code.

Responsibilities

• Mentor engineers and technicians.
• Lead equipment concept development balancing specs, process control, layout, cost, and lead-time.
• Layout NFPA79/NEC/UL508A panels and create electrical schematics.
• Architect and debug PLC ladder logic interacting with conveyors, robots, MES, machine vision.
• Manage electrical cabinet builds.
• Create machine interactions with MES.
• Introduce automated machines and train production teams post-deployment.
• Review specs and provide evaluations for outsourced automated equipment.
• Serve as technical lead on projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Mentoring engineers & technicians

Technical presentation skills

State machine programming

Automation design experience

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics or related

Tools

Allen Bradley PLC

Mitsubishi PLC

HMI/GUI design

MES integration

Electrical panel design (NFPA79/NEC/UL508A)

Robotics integration

Job description

Our Equipment Automation Engineering (EAE) team seeks a professional and innovative individual to join our team in Pullman WA or Lewiston ID.

SEL is a 100 percent employee-owned company that specializes in creating and manufacturing digital products and systems that protect and control power systems around the world.

The Equipment Automation Engineering team supports manufacturing and vertical integration teams by understanding our manufacturing processes, recommending solutions, and executing projects.

The successful candidate will be dependable, responsible, and self‑motivated, and work closely with EAE mechanical engineers, Production representatives, and related Engineering teams to develop, successfully implement, and support manufacturing automation solutions. These solutions often include fully custom automation designs.

As a Senior Controls Engineer, a typical day might include the following:

• 1. Mentoring engineers and technicians.
• 2. Leading in initial equipment concept development and carefully balancing product specifications, process control requirements, layout complexity, cost, quality, and lead‑time limits.
• 3. Laying out new industrial electrical control panels which are NFPA79/NEC/UL508A compliant and create electrical schematics.
• 4. Architecting, writing, and debugging PLC ladder logic with an emphasis on generating code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable. PLC code will interact with subsystems such as conveyors, robots, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), machine vision, and 3rd party equipment.
• 5. Managing electrical cabinet builds.
• 6. Creating machine interactions with plant‑wide Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
• 7. Introducing automated machines and processes into production, and training Maintenance and Production teams to support after deployment of equipment.
• 8. Creating and reviewing specifications and providing technical evaluations for outsourced automated equipment purchases.
• 9. Performing as technical lead on assigned projects.
• 10. Other duties as assigned.

This job might be for you if you are a US Citizen and if you have:

• 1. B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or related discipline
• 2. 12+ years relevant experience in designing and implementing automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.
• 3. Strong technical expertise in the application of PLCs (example: Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi), HMI/GUI layout, Field Bus Networks, Safety Systems, Vision Systems, and integration of Robotics.
• 4. Familiarity with electrical prints and standards for industrial equipment.
• 5. Excellent technical presentation and training skills.
• 6. Demonstrated advanced proficiency in programming PLCs, with a well‑defined methodology for maintaining code structure and organization.
• 7. Ability to program state machines for complex processes which involve multi‑station parallel processing, pick and place automation, data acquisition, and PID control.
• 8. Proven ability to design reliable systems with error handling and recovery processes.

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned.

• Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
• Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range Data New hires generally start between $160,600 - $230,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job‑related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.

Communication with Applicants We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail]. SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

Communication with Applicants We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail]. SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee‑owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.