Senior Controls Engineer — Lead Industrial Automation

Concept Systems Inc; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) and bonus plan

Career development

Hybrid work options

Job summary

Concept Systems, Inc. in the Washington, DC area seeks an experienced controls engineer to design, develop, and implement industrial automation systems (PLC/HMI, robotics, vision, motion, SCADA).

You will take technical ownership from concept through commissioning and work directly with customers to translate processes into effective automation solutions. The role emphasizes managing project scope, schedules, and budgets, mentoring peers, and collaborating with engineering, project management,

Qualifications

• 4+ years of controls, automation, or systems integration experience.
• Experience with PLC/HMI development, robotics and vision, motion control, SCADA, industrial networking, machine safety, CNC, DCS, or manufacturing intelligence.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to take ownership of complex technical challenges from concept through implementation.
• The ability to organize and lead technical work while managing project scope, schedule, budget, and priorities.
• Strong communication skills and confidence working directly with customers to understand their needs, explain technical concepts, and build lasting relationships.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to mentor, share knowledge, and work effectively across teams.
• Curiosity about new technologies and a genuine interest in industrial automation and systems integration.
• Experience with hardware design and documentation, power distribution and component sizing, motion control, and control panel quality review is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, program, and implement industrial control and automation systems (PLC/HMI, robotics and vision, motion control, SCADA, safety, networking).
• Take technical ownership from initial concept through programming, testing, startup, and commissioning.
• Work directly with customers to understand processes, challenges, and goals and develop practical automation solutions.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations following Concept Systems' Project Methodology.
• Serve as a key technical resource during customer meetings, solution development, estimating, and proposal efforts.
• Build strong customer relationships by providing responsive technical support, identifying future needs, and helping customers evaluate new technologies.
• Stay current with evolving automation technologies and contribute ideas to internal innovation, R&D, and solution development.
• Mentor and support other engineers while collaborating across engineering, project management, sales, and other Concept teams.

Skills

Controls systems design

PLC/HMI development

Robotics and vision

Motion control

SCADA

Industrial networking

Machine safety

CNC / DCS

Manufacturing intelligence

Problem solving

Customer communication

Mentoring

Travel internationally

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field or equivalent project focused work experience

Job description

Concept Systems, Inc. in the Washington, DC area seeks an experienced controls engineer to design, develop, and implement industrial automation systems (PLC/HMI, robotics, vision, motion, SCADA).

You will take technical ownership from concept through commissioning and work directly with customers to translate processes into effective automation solutions. The role emphasizes managing project scope, schedules, and budgets, mentoring peers, and collaborating with engineering, project management,