Sr. Controls Engineer

North Wind; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

North Wind is seeking a Senior Controls and Instrumentation Engineer based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in controls and electronics, proficient in LabVIEW and PLC systems.

Your responsibilities include designing and analyzing systems, ensuring projects align with customer requirements, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. North Wind offers equal opportunities and supports a safe workplace.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in controls, electronics, or a similar role.
• US Person status required due to security requirements.
• Experience in designing and reviewing P&ID drawings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and reuse system design solutions to meet requirements.
• Perform engineering tasks on schedule and within budget.
• Document and present work in accordance with quality requirements.
• Interface with procurement and production teams for issue resolution.
• Assist marketing in developing proposals for future work.

Skills

Proficiency with LabVIEW

PLC knowledge

Experience with automation systems

Interpersonal skills

Ability to prioritize multiple projects

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Job Posting Title: Senior Controls and Instrumentation Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design & Analysis – Develop or reuse system design solutions to meet customer requirements. Partner with designers and project team to deliver complete design packages (drawings, BOMs, etc.). Design and develop electronic subsystems, including data acquisition systems, control and integration of electro‑mechanical valves and instrumentation (temperatures, pressures, flow, etc.), control loops, electrical control systems, junction boxes, and panel layouts.
• Scope, Schedule, Budget – Perform engineering tasks on schedule and within budget. Ensure system design aligns with as‑sold scope, customer requirements, quality standards, and industry codes. Communicate regularly with the project team on status, issues, and variances to plan.
• Document & Present – Document and present work in accordance with quality requirements. Prepare design criteria, calculation packages, procurement specifications, technical reports, validation plans, and product manuals. Participate and lead internal and customer design reviews.
• Support – Interface with procurement, production, and installation teams to quickly resolve issues discovered during assembly and test. Travel to customer and subcontractor sites for design reviews, site surveys, and system commissioning.
• Quote – Assist marketing in developing proposals for future work. Develop concepts, cost estimates, proposal write‑ups, analyses, options, and recommendations.

Preferred Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of practical work experience in controls, electronics, data acquisition systems or a similar role; or a combination of education and experience equivalent to the above.
• US Person status required due to security requirements.

Preferred Knowledge / Ability

• Experience with design and implementation of automation or data acquisition systems in an industrial setting.
• Proficiency with LabVIEW or PLCs with at least 5 years of experience highly desired.
• Strong experience in PLC, electro‑mechanical systems, and software programming strongly preferred.
• Experience with one‑line power diagrams and electrical load sizing.
• Experience with designing and reviewing P&ID drawings (Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams).
• Experience with sensor hardware selections (thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, LVTDs, switches, etc.).
• Must be a self‑starter, able to balance priorities between multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively and productively as an individual contributor and collaborate as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and positive attitude.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally; travel typically is less than 15%.

Due to U.S. State Department restrictions on access to technology, candidates must be “U.S. Persons” as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

North Wind is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. North Wind supports a safe and drug‑free workplace through pre‑employment background checks and drug testing.