Senior Controls Engineer - Part Time; PLC​/SCADA

Overview

About M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber‑physical solutions for the nation’s most mission‑critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward‑thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

This is a part time role.

Controls Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, installing, and maintaining equipment used to monitor and control systems, machinery and processes. They work in various industries including industrial controls, water / wastewater, power controls and protection, and transportation systems. Controls engineers are technical experts in areas such as advanced process control, instrumentation, distributed control systems, PLCs, and SCADA systems. Controls engineers use these skills to design and implement solutions to our customer’s complex needs.

• Design / Engineering
• Originates design documents and leads design of Large programs
• Originates design documents for small projects and in support of large programs
• Narrative Design Documents
• Requirements Analysis
• System Functional Documentation (Sequence of Operations)
• Subsystem Designs (CAD / Panels / Layouts / Wiring / SCADA Screens / Hardware / Communications)
• Preparation of Specifications
• Perform QA/QC and technical reviews of designs.
• Plans and Design Procedures and Fixtures for Integrated Systems Factory Testing
• Comment Resolution
• Programming
• Lead programming / configuration team efforts for complex automation and SCADA applications.
• Program / Configure / troubleshoot PLCs, RTUs, and/or HMI systems
• Testing / Troubleshooting / Deployment / Commissioning
• Author test plans for large programs
• Leads / supervises testing activities
• Author testing / commissioning procedures
• Preparation of test reports
• Originates test procedures
• Commissioning of deployed systems
• Development of test fixtures and simulation devices
• Perform Factory and Field Testing
• Maintenance
• Perform troubleshooting on service calls to existing and legacy system operators

• Estimates
• Leads proposal efforts (Research / Cost Estimates / Proposal Documents) for medium to large projects
• Works with relevant stakeholders to review scope of project
• Conducts any surveys, inspections, tours, etc. of client sites, as required
• Prepares cost estimates and supporting documents for small projects
• Evaluation and pricing of change orders
• Divisional Management
• Actively follows emerging technical trends and contributes to sector leadership and guidance in area of practice
• Personnel Management
• Assigns technical tasks to engineers and administrative staff in support of projects
• Assigns technical tasks and coordinates with entry‑level engineers
• Assigns tasks and coordinates with Technical Staff

• Experience in reading electrical and control schematics and plans
• Experience in control system startup, configuration, and calibration
• Experience in testing and troubleshooting control systems
• Experience using basic electrical and machinist hand tools
• Experience using testing, calibration, or industry‑specific tools and software

• Experience in computer networks
• Experience in CAD/CAE Software (AutoCAD / EPLAN)
• Experience in schedule management software
• Standard Office Software (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.)

• Required Certifications
• Certification in one or more PLC / Automation Platform, such as:
  Schneider, Rockwell, Siemens, Niagara, etc.
• Certificatio…