Industrial and commercial applications require control systems in order to function properly and ensure worker safety. These systems are managed by controls engineers, professionals who understand their functions and can effectively monitor performance and utilize them to adjust operational parameters and/or environmental conditions to confirm consistent optimal output.
To effectively perform the functions of this job, candidates should display a working knowledge of the environments in which they work as well as the safety and performance standards their industries are held to. The controls engineer job description template shown here demonstrates how to convey that requirement in your job listing.
Prospective controls engineers should also demonstrate an understanding of the systems they’ll be working with, from their design to their practical applications. Consult the controls engineer job description template to see exactly what sort of experience and educational background one should bring to this position.
Controls Engineer Job Summary
Our materials processing plant is looking for an experienced controls engineer to monitor our environmental control system. In this position, you’ll be tasked with ensuring the safety of the production materials that we work with as well as our staff. You’ll work closely with our facility manager to monitor our internal environment conditions, adjusting the HVAC systems to maintain optimal temperatures and humidity levels in both our storage and production areas. This job will allow you to expand your knowledge of atmospheric properties and environmental regulations while also giving you an in-depth look at property and facility management. As you’ll be reporting to and working with members of our executive management team, this role will also help you gain valuable insight into business leadership best practices.
Job Responsibilities
- Monitor internal environmental conditions as part of our processing plant control team
- Utilize tools such as temperature and humidity sensors, thermal energy output monitors, chromatographs and spectrometers to feed information into environmental monitoring software
- Obtain measurements throughout the day to develop a general expectation of conditions depending upon internal and external factors, and set up a daily schedule for when to adjust HVAC controls accordingly
- Coordinate with facility manager to issue alerts when environmental conditions reach extreme levels in certain areas
- Use environmental control measures, such as HVAC system controls, external ventilation shafts and, if needed, fire suppression systems, to address issues and return production or storage areas to safe conditions
- Inspect sensory equipment routinely to ensure that all environmental monitoring system components are working correctly
- Prepare incident reports to share with management if and when issues that require intervention do arise
- Work with internal engineering team and outside consultants to upgrade monitoring systems or develop new programs and equipment when needed
Job Skills and Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, chemistry, geoscience or a related field
- Two years of experience working in facility monitoring
- Familiarity with environmental monitoring systems
- Ability to analyze information quickly and perform well in emergency situations
Preferred:
- Working knowledge of HVAC and fire suppression systems
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated attention to detail
Controls Engineer Job Responsibilities
Finding the right person for the position starts with a strong controls engineer job description. The most in-depth section of the document details the job responsibilities. This section underscores the critical roles the position undertakes. Although the controls engineer job responsibilities section might be longer than the rest, you want to avoid making it too long. Most jobseekers spend less than a minute reviewing a job posting, and excessively long job description sections can quickly scare them off.
Incorporating the 6-8 most important responsibilities is sufficient. Utilizing bullet points makes it easy for jobseekers to skim through the text and still glean the relevant information. If you struggle with deciding which duties to include, consider those that attract excitement or best encompass the position. This might consist of the management structure of the company, exciting projects on the horizon, decisions for which the position is responsible, core deliverables of the position and other specific duties.
Below are some examples to include in your controls engineer job description:
- Implement and develop design for PLC and Control Logix programming, Servos, VFD and hardware
- Review and maintain systems and identify improvements in the design incorporating trends
- Test program operation to verify it remains functional
- Communicate with clients to address their concerns, troubleshoot and identify solutions to problems
Controls Engineer Job Specifications
When you write your controls engineer job description, do not underestimate the qualifications and skills section. It might be short, but it has a significant impact on the quality of applicants you receive. Through spending time narrowing down to the most essential skills and qualifications required for the position, you receive more qualified applicants.
This section details the education, training, technical skills and soft skills necessary to carry out the job. When jobseekers read a well-written job posting with clear controls engineer job specifications, they have criteria to judge their own abilities before they apply.
To compile the list of required skills and qualifications, hold a meeting with key staff members. This might include any current controls engineers, management and associated staff members. They provide insight into the necessary training and skills so you know what to include. You might find that you have two categories of requirement: necessary and preferred. On your controls engineer job description, you can put these into two separate bullet lists to make it clear to applicants.
Below are some examples of qualifications and skills you might include in this section:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field; master’s preferred
- 3-5 years of experience
- Proficiency in PLC programming Logix
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills