Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job DescriptionControls EngineerExperience Level: Mid-Senior
Years of Experience Required: 10 Years
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Function: Engineering
Industry: Industrial Automation
Total Positions: 1
Relocation Assistance: Limited assistance
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility: No
Work Location: Orlando, FLJob Description

• This position is responsible for electrical and controls engineering on large-scale projects.

• Project requirements include control system design from scratch, covering hardware, software, and network architecture.

• Responsibilities include electrical panel design, power calculations, risk assessment, component selection and configuration, control system programming, and system installation and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Must be organized, technically competent, and possess effective oral and written communication skills.

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment and interfacing with engineers, designers, and drafters.

• Responsible for system design from a blank sheet to create electrical, control, and system component concepts based on project requirements.

• Experience creating designs using drafting software (AutoCAD preferred).

• Provide input and system modifications as needed to support integration with other project disciplines.

• Interface with facility design teams to optimize panel locations, minimize voltage drop, and create efficient hardware layouts.

• Manage vendor scope to verify safety, functionality, and compliance with contract requirements.

• Ensure designs comply with local, government, and client design and implementation codes and standards.

• Perform system design analysis for hazard identification, development, and mitigation.

• Design and analyze safety-critical components within control systems.

• Design redundant mitigation systems to improve safety and reliability.

• Design systems involving complex motion and automation integration.

• Develop system configuration and design documentation, including:

  • Description of operations

  • Detailed control system design descriptions

  • Panel assembly drawings and schematics

  • Termination drawings

  • Network layouts

  • System implementation and acceptance test plans

  • Routine maintenance and job plans

• Perform system design calculations and analysis, including:

  • Short circuit protection

  • Harmonics

  • Noise reduction and cancellation

  • Power consumption and load flow

  • Protective relay and circuit design

  • Ground fault monitoring

  • Safety system implementation (SIL/PL knowledge preferred)

• Design, develop, and implement DCS/PLC control system logic software to meet process requirements.

• Understand and implement client software design standards.

• Demonstrate knowledge of control system components and instrumentation to properly design software interfaces.

• Develop software documentation, including:

  • Theory and description of operation

  • Detailed control system design descriptions

  • Software design plans

  • Detailed software implementation documentation

  • System implementation and acceptance test plans

• Possess knowledge of design, troubleshooting, and code implementation using:

  • Ladder Logic (required)

  • Structured Text (required)

  • C++ (preferred)

  • Visual Basic (preferred)

• Perform processor loading calculations, scan time analysis, I/O response timing analysis, network delay analysis, and task prioritization.

• Design efficient, minimalistic code that supports future system modifications and client understanding post-turnover.

• Provide documentation and tools to assist with troubleshooting and system understanding.

• Diagnose control system issues and determine root causes using trending, analysis, and test logic.

• Minimize secondary faults by implementing intelligent diagnostics within system logic.

• Assist with system startup, debugging, and integrated system commissioning.

• Support development of system documentation during project execution.

• Work on automation and control system integration projects for industries including entertainment and manufacturing.

• Act as technical lead on projects and guide junior engineers, technicians, and contractors as needed.

• Knowledge of ride system design for guest attractions is preferred.

• Capable of working off-shifts during installation and commissioning as required.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational, technical, oral, and written communication skills.

• Proven experience working in multidisciplinary engineering environments.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering required.

• Bachelor’s degrees in related disciplines may be acceptable if work experience is directly related to electrical engineering.

• Degrees outside the electrical or controls field will not be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience covering most responsibilities listed above.

• Preferred experience in ASTM standards, attractions industry, safety engineering, instrumentation, components, and logic programming.

• Experience using AutoCAD is desired.

Key Competencies

• Knowledge of contract documents and technical specifications.

• Ability to collect and accurately document field data.

• Strong system design and analytical skills.

• Demonstrated abilities in planning, customer focus, decision-making, communication, organization, prioritization, and problem-solving.

• Experience with industrial hardware and software platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent.

• Experience with Ethernet-based distributed remote I/O systems.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office environments is required.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 30% in worst-case scenarios (typically 10% depending on project requirements).

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Physical requirements include vision, color perception, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, driving, lifting, climbing, pushing, and pulling.

• Ability to mount and dismount equipment as required.

• Work conditions include:

  • On-site client locations five days per week

  • Standard office environments

  • On-site office environments

  • Diverse industrial and construction environments

• Frequent use of computers, copy machines, and telephones.

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