Control engineers are experts in optimizing processes, equipment, or tools by configuring smart controls to simplify actions and improve productivity. Think about the cruise control driving option in a vehicle or the dishwasher that works with the touch of one or two buttons. A controls engineer was behind those innovations and is responsible for creating many more.
This type of work is referred to as control system engineering. The control engineering discipline actively combines theory, design, and systems development. It requires experience with, and knowledge of, mechanical and electrical engineering, automation, and the latest information technologies. Today, control engineers typically focus on developing or maintaining two types of controls: binary and digital controls.
In this career, controls engineers use their analytical capabilities to troubleshoot issues, examine processes, maintain equipment controls, and find creative solutions to system inefficiencies. Innovative problem-solvers by nature, control engineers must frequently conduct research, experiment, and investigate new systems controls or improvements to achieve smooth operations. They regularly work alongside project control engineers or process control engineers to streamline processes within a project, as planned and on schedule. Control engineers may also be required to teach other engineers and technicians how to use and maintain the system controls.
Popular industries for control engineers include manufacturing, energy, aerospace, automotive, and beyond. As technology continues to evolve, so will control systems engineering. This means, there will be only more opportunities for control engineers!
Apply now for a job as a control engineer!
Instrumentation and Controls Engineer II
Location: Kemmerer, WY
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 5 years
Provide support for facilities engineering interface with Instrumentation and Controls. Update documentation consistent with MOC, provide ad hoc support through work processes, and manage drawing updates for modifications and minor re-designs. Evaluate and comment on discipline engineering work performed both internally and by contractors and sub-contractors to ensure compliance with project specifications, company standards, and regulatory requirements. Facilitate effective execution of discipline engineering and design routines that align with the project's goals, objectives, and procedures. Ensure accurate and timely communication among the project team and other company functions regarding discipline engineering activities, progress, and issues. Analyze maintenance records to determine instrument failure rates, availability/reliability calculations, bad actor/failure modes identification, and program effectiveness/cost analysis. Develop and execute process control surveillance programs. Collect and trend process data using the company's multiple process historian databases and visualization software tools. Perform process control philosophy and stability reviews, including execution of control logic updates and loop tuning. Conduct criticality assessments and develop equipment strategies/maintenance plans for instrumentation and control systems, considering Safety Integrity Level (SIL) assessments, industry standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturer recommendations.
Control & Protection Engineer for HVDC Studies - proaktiv (w/m/d)
Location: Ingolstadt
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 2 years
Entwicklung und Implementierung von Steuerungssystemen für HVDC-Anlagen zur effizienten und sicheren Energieübertragung Gestaltung und Optimierung von Schutzstrategien, um die Systemstabilität und -sicherheit in verschiedenen Betriebsszenarien zu gewährleisten Durchführung von Simulationen und Leistungsanalysen zur Bewertung der Effizienz, Stabilität und Zuverlässigkeit von HVDC-Systemen Sicherstellung der nahtlosen Kompatibilität von HVDC-Anlagen mit bestehenden AC-Netzen, inklusive Netzintegration und -stabilität Erstellung technischer Dokumentationen, Berichte und Analysen zur Unterstützung von Projektentwicklungen und zur Sicherstellung der Transparenz Enge Zusammenarbeit mit interdisziplinären Ingenieurteams, um technische Lösungen abzustimmen und die Projekte erfolgreich umzusetzen
Mechanical Engineers (w/m/d)
Location: Näfels
Branche: Machine & Plant Design
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 2 years
Entwicklung und Konstruktion von mechanischen Komponenten und Systemen Durchführung von Berechnungen und Simulationen zur Optimierung von Designs Erstellung von CAD-Modellen und technischen Zeichnungen Zusammenarbeit mit interdisziplinären Teams (Elektronik, Software, Produktion) zur Umsetzung von Projekten Unterstützung bei der Durchführung von Tests und Prototypenentwicklungen Sicherstellung der Einhaltung von Qualitätsstandards und technischen Vorgaben Analyse und Lösung von technischen Problemen im Produktionsprozess
Project Controls Lead
Location: Doha
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Progress Measurement procedures, basis and reporting review and approval.Risk register coordination and reporting.Progress status reporting development and management.
Project Controls Lead
Location: Houston, TX
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Oversee performance management for assigned projects, providing cost/schedule forecasts and value of work done (VOWD) analysis. Review and integrate Operator reports for non-operated projects, ensuring accuracy and timely submission of project controls (PC) deliverables. Collaborate with Operator counterparts to influence deliverable quality, timing, and assumptions for internal reporting. Assess Operator deliverables to align project controls with governance, assurance, and forecasting processes. Develop conceptual cost estimates in coordination with stakeholders and the Project Controls team. Support senior leaders, project leads, and finance teams in annual corporate planning for budgets and resourcing. Lead or participate in Schedule & Cost Risk Analysis (SCRA) for projects. Engage in industry events to apply best practices and continuous improvements.
Trainee Finance & Control
Location: Den Haag
Branche: Financial Services
Expertise: Controlling
Experience: 1 years
Als Trainee Finance & Control werk je bij toonaangevende bedrijven binnen zowel de financiële sector als andere industrieën. Brunel heeft een breed netwerk van gerenommeerde organisaties, variërend van financiële instellingen als banken en verzekeraars, tot bedrijven binnen de energie-, technologie-, transport- en infrastructuursector. Je doorloopt een intensief traject waarin je jezelf binnen één jaar ontwikkelt tot een volwaardig Financial Professional. Je werkt aan uitdagende projecten binnen verschillende specialismen, zoals Financial of Business Control, Audit, Accounting & Reporting, Financial Data, Risk Management en Credit Risk.
Trainee Finance & Control
Location: Rotterdam
Branche: Financial Services
Expertise: Controlling
Experience: 1 years
Als Trainee Finance & Control werk je bij toonaangevende bedrijven binnen zowel de financiële sector als andere industrieën. Brunel heeft een breed netwerk van gerenommeerde organisaties, variërend van financiële instellingen als banken en verzekeraars, tot bedrijven binnen de energie-, technologie-, transport- en infrastructuursector. Je doorloopt een intensief traject waarin je jezelf binnen één jaar ontwikkelt tot een volwaardig Financial Professional. Je werkt aan uitdagende projecten binnen verschillende specialismen, zoals Financial of Business Control, Audit, Accounting & Reporting, Financial Data, Risk Management en Credit Risk.
DevOps Engineer (w/m/d)
Location: Frankfurt am Main
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 3 years
Sie entwickeln und optimieren skalierbare, modulare Softwarelösungen unter Berücksichtigung hoher Ergebnisqualität und des Shift-Left-Ansatze Zu Ihren Aufgaben gehört die Konzeption und Umsetzung eines automatisierten Testdatenmanagements zur Sicherung und Wiederherstellung von Testdaten Sie verantworten die Auswahl, Installation und den sicheren Betrieb von Softwarelösungen auf Cloud-Infrastrukturen Sie konzipieren, entwickeln und optimieren CI/CD-Pipelines und integrieren Tests nahtlos in die Entwicklungs- und Lieferprozesse nach SAFe Sie erstellen, schätzen und planen User Stories gemäß dem SAFe-Vorgehensmodell und arbeiten in regelmäßigen Abstimmungen im agilen Scrum-Team
I&C Control System Integration Engineer
Location: .
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Ensure I&C Control System Integration engineering activities are conducted in accordance with project specifications and approved variations if any.Accountable for a quality design of I&C Control System Integration engineering deliverables, including design safety aspects and execution planning of I&C Control System Integration field activities.Drive work execution, ensuring technical alignment and quality with various disciplines stakeholders from both PMT and Contractor.Provides guidance to Contractor to complete I&C design per project specifications in a timely manner and provides clear direction when project instructions or specifications are not clearManage the Integrated Control and Safety Systems (ICSS) purchase order with the Contractor and System Vendor in accordance with the roles and responsibilities given in the contract to ensure safe and seamless integration of the systems without any disturbance to the existing operating facilities.Drive the Contractor to develop plans and work schedules that ensure effective completion of project activities and provide data (narrative, charts, graphs), change management recommendations and recovery plans to address any schedule delays for monthly progress and stewardship reporting.Support multi-discipline activities providing I&C expertise to other disciplines as necessary, in support of completing activities within schedule and making appropriate recommendations to management on I&C issues. Key effort to support interfacing between key vendors and Contractor to ensure quality and execution objectives are met. Leads brownfield interface coordination with OPCO to develop execution plans to tie-in to existing systems.Participate in sharing lessons learned, together with capturing current lessons learned to benefit future projects.
Trainee Finance & Control
Location: Utrecht
Branche: Financial Services
Expertise: Controlling
Experience: 1 years
Als Trainee Finance & Control werk je bij toonaangevende bedrijven binnen zowel de financiële sector als andere industrieën. Brunel heeft een breed netwerk van gerenommeerde organisaties, variërend van financiële instellingen als banken en verzekeraars, tot bedrijven binnen de energie-, technologie-, transport- en infrastructuursector. Je doorloopt een intensief traject waarin je jezelf binnen één jaar ontwikkelt tot een volwaardig Financial Professional. Je werkt aan uitdagende projecten binnen verschillende specialismen, zoals Financial of Business Control, Audit, Accounting & Reporting, Financial Data, Risk Management en Credit Risk.
Common control engineer responsibilities
A control engineer is responsible for performing a range of important engineering tasks. Responsibilities may include:
Analyzing processes and systems for areas of optimization with controls for continuous improvement;
Designing, developing, and implementing controls using algorithms and technical tools and approaches;
Managing and maintaining controls in larger systems and processes to facilitate smooth and safe operations;
Troubleshooting control system issues to fix them to ensure high productivity;
Developing software and hardware for controls, guiding installation as needed;
Implementing solutions using robotic process automation (RPA) as required;
Drafting technical documentation and reports on control systems;
Creating technical drawings using computer-aided design (CAD) software;
Collaborating with customers, engineers, managers, and specialists to develop and deploy the controls in products;
Tracking progress and delivering control systems engineering results in line with agreed project timelines and budgets;
Ensuring compliance with relevant requirements, codes, and certifications, and in line with customer needs and demands;
Leading trainings on system or process controls and equipment as needed;
Assuring the safety and security of team members.
Qualifications for control engineers
Control engineers should have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or related. In some countries, an engineering license may also be required.
Additional supporting skills and experience include:
2-4+ years of engineering experience;
Solid understanding of construction methods; materials, forces;
Excellent applied physics, math, and design skills;
Proficiency in using diverse computer software, including the latest design, modeling, and calculation software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Matlab/LabView, or similar;
Experience in project management;
Strong verbal and written communication skills to be able to work easily with customers, engineers, technicians, and other team members;
Some work experience gained through an apprenticeship or in a relevant role is an advantage.
Sources of information
https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/controls-engineer-career_KO0,17.htm
https://www.betterteam.com/controls-engineer-job-description
https://www.freelancermap.com/blog/what-does-control-systems-engineer-do/
https://www.greatsampleresume.com/job-responsibilities/mechanical-engineering/controls-engineer
https://www.comeet.com/resources/job-descriptions/controls-engineer/
https://www.bmrsolutions.co.uk/skills-experience-control-engineer-need/