The Principal Controls Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for providing advanced controls engineering expertise across multiple automation projects at Invio Automation. This role serves as a subject matter expert for PLCs, HMI, motion control, robotics integration, safety systems, and industrial networking, and provides technical direction to ensure consistent, high-quality controls solutions across the organization.
The Principal Controls Engineer works closely with Engineering, Project Management, Manufacturing, and Field Service teams to support project execution from concept through commissioning. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining controls standards, solving complex technical challenges, and supporting the successful delivery of custom automation systems.
The position requires the ability to lead through influence, provide technical mentorship to controls engineers, and act as a key escalation point for complex system issues. Our goal is to exceed expectations and ensure our internal and external customers receive an exceptional experience at Invio Automation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide advanced technical leadership and subject matter expertise for controls engineering across multiple projects
- Develop, maintain, and standardize controls engineering practices, including PLC programming standards, HMI design, and system architecture
- Support development of controls concepts during proposal, design, and estimating phases
- Lead technical problem-solving efforts for complex controls, electrical, and system integration issues
- Provide guidance on PLCs, HMIs, robotics, motion control, vision systems, safety systems, and industrial networking
- Review and support controls design, programming, and commissioning activities to ensure consistency and quality
- Serve as escalation point for complex field or integration issues during installation, debug, and startup
- Collaborate with Project Management and Engineering to ensure controls deliverables align with project scope, schedule, and budget
- Support commissioning activities and customer acceptance testing as needed
- Mentor and develop controls engineers and support technical training initiatives across the organization
- Evaluate new technologies and provide recommendations for continuous improvement in controls systems and software tools
- Support cross-functional coordination between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Field Service teams
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for technical issues
- Ensure adherence to company engineering standards, safety requirements, and best practices
- Support continuous improvement initiatives related to controls design, programming efficiency, and system reliability
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a highly experienced controls engineering professional with deep technical expertise and the ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, project-based automation environment.
The Principal Controls Engineer must be capable of independently resolving complex technical challenges while supporting and elevating the capabilities of the broader engineering team.
Other Skills and Abilities:
- Expert-level knowledge of industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, motion control, and safety systems
- Strong ability to troubleshoot complex integrated control systems in manufacturing and field environments
- Deep understanding of electrical schematics, control panel design, and system architecture
- Ability to lead technical discussions and influence engineering direction across teams
- Strong mentoring and coaching skills for developing engineering talent
- Excellent problem-solving skills with ability to work under pressure
- Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple technical priorities across concurrent projects
- Experience with industrial communication protocols and networked control systems
- Strong organizational skills and attention to technical detail
- Ability to support commissioning and field troubleshooting activities as required
- Willingness to travel to customer sites and Invio facilities as needed
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field required.
Minimum of 5+ years of experience in industrial automation controls engineering, including PLC programming, system integration, and commissioning of complex automation systems.
Equivalent combination of education and advanced technical experience may be considered.
Compensation
Salary Range: $150,000 – $180,000 annually
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $180,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, experience, education, etc.
Bonus Eligibility: This position is eligible for participation in the Company's Annual Incentive Plan (AIP), subject to plan terms.
INVIO AUTOMATION’S CORE VALUES
- We take pride in the reliability of our team and the difficult problems we solve for customers.
- We deliver real customer value that positively impacts the lives of those around us.
- We are dependable. Relationships and trust matter.
- Our ingenuity and desire to improve lives will complement our suite of solutions.
- We strive to demonstrate that our attention to detail does not start or end with the solutions we engineer and deliver.
- We believe exceptional service is better demonstrated than said.
