Sr. Controls Engineer

CyberCoders; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

PTO

Health/dental/vision

Short/Long-term disability

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Relocation assistance

Job summary

CyberCoders in Champaign, IL is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to design, develop, and commission industrial control systems for manufacturing and process environments.

You will lead PLC/HMI/SCADA projects, architect architectures, program Rockwell and Siemens PLCs, develop I/O lists, wiring diagrams, FAT/SAT, and mentor junior engineers.

Travel to project sites may be required; strong cyber-security practices and documentation are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Mechatronics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in controls engineering within industrial manufacturing or process industries
• Proficiency programming Rockwell (RSLogix/Studio 5000) and Siemens (TIA Portal) PLCs
• Strong experience developing HMIs and SCADA systems (Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA)
• Solid understanding of industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, Modbus) and cybersecurity fundamentals
• Experience with VFDs, motor control, instrumentation, PID tuning, and basic motion control
• Ability to create clear technical documentation (functional specs, control narratives, I/O lists, test plans)
• Hands-on FAT/SAT, commissioning, field troubleshooting; willing to travel
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, leadership, and project coordination
• Preferred certifications: Rockwell/Siemens CAP or related credentials

Responsibilities

• Lead design, programming, testing, and commissioning of PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for new and retrofit projects
• Develop control system architectures, I/O lists, network topologies, and panel wiring diagrams with electrical/mechanical teams
• Program and troubleshoot PLCs (Rockwell, Siemens); create HMI screens; configure SCADA platforms (Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA)
• Implement industrial networking and cybersecurity practices for control systems
• Prepare control system documentation (functional specs, control narratives, I/O lists, test plans, as-built drawings)
• Lead FAT, SAT, and oversee on-site commissioning and start-up activities
• Perform root-cause analysis; troubleshoot production downtime and intermittent faults
• Coordinate with suppliers/integrators; ensure component compatibility and system integration
• Mentor and train junior engineers/technicians; review code and deliverables
• Contribute to project planning, cost estimating, schedules, and continuous improvement

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA development

Industrial networking

Troubleshooting

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Rockwell RSLogix/Studio 5000

Siemens TIA Portal

Ignition

Wonderware/AVEVA

Job description

Senior Controls Engineer

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to design, develop, and commission industrial control systems that support automation projects across manufacturing and process environments. The ideal candidate will lead controls engineering efforts architecting PLC/HMI/SCADA solutions, integrating hardware and software, ensuring reliable operation, and mentoring junior engineer swhile collaborating with project managers, electrical engineers, and operations teams to meet schedule, budget, safety, and quality targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design, programming, testing, and commissioning of PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for new and retrofit projects.
• Develop control system architectures, I/O lists, network topologies, and panel wiring diagrams in coordination with electrical and mechanical teams.
• Program and troubleshoot PLCs (Rockwell, Siemens), create HMI screens, and configure SCADA platforms (Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA).
• Implement industrial networking and communications (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, Modbus) and ensure robust cyber-security practices for control systems.
• Prepare control system documentation including functional specifications, control narratives, ladder/structured text code, loop diagrams, test plans, and as-built drawings.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and oversee on-site commissioning and start-up activities.
• Perform root-cause analysis and provide timely troubleshooting and support for production downtime and intermittent faults.
• Coordinate with suppliers, integrators, and cross-functional teams to ensure component compatibility and successful system integration.
• Mentor and train junior engineers and technicians, review code and design deliverables, and enforce engineering standards and best practices.
• Contribute to project planning, cost estimating, schedules, and continuous improvement initiatives related to controls and automation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Mechatronics, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in controls engineering within industrial manufacturing or process industries.
• Proven proficiency programming and commissioning Rockwell (RSLogix/Studio 5000) and Siemens (TIA Portal) PLCs.
• Strong experience developing HMIs and SCADA systems, including Ignition and Wonderware/AVEVA platforms.
• Solid understanding of industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, Modbus) and control system cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Experience with VFDs, motor control, instrumentation, PID tuning, and basic motion control concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to create clear technical documentation: functional specs, control narratives, I/O lists, and test plans.
• Hands-on experience with FAT/SAT procedures, commissioning, and field troubleshooting; willing to travel to project sites as required.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, leadership, and project coordination skills; experience mentoring junior staff.
• Preferred certifications: Rockwell Certified, Siemens Certified, Certified Automation Professional (CAP), or related credentials.

Benefits

• Paid holidays
• PTO
• health/dental/vision
• S/L disability
• Life insurance
• 401(k) program with a employee match
• Parental leave policy
• Relocation assistance may be available