Principal Controls Engineer

Indianapolis, United States | Posted on 10/15/2026

Our client is a forward-thinking industrial automation organization focused on developing reliable, scalable control systems for complex manufacturing and industrial operations. The Principal Controls Engineer will help establish the technical foundation of the Controls & Automation group by building standardized engineering resources and repeatable workflows that strengthen team performance. This role offers the opportunity to shape technical direction, improve engineering consistency, and mentor a team responsible for delivering high-quality automation solutions.

Lead Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLC Programming using Studio 5000 Logix Designer, developing reliable control solutions for industrial equipment and automated systems.

Build and maintain AutoCAD Electrical Standards & Shared Library Development resources, including standardized symbols, templates, electrical schematics, and panel design documentation.

Establish PLC Programming Standards & Controls Architecture from the ground up, including the development of Add‑On Instructions (AOI) and reusable programming libraries.

Develop Factory Talk View / HMI applications and lead Industrial Networking & System Integration to support communication between control systems, equipment, and operator interfaces.

Direct PLC Testing, Commissioning & Troubleshooting while developing technical standards, standardizing engineering workflows, documenting best practices, and training engineers to implement systems and libraries consistently.

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

10+ years of progressive experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, and PLC‑based system development.

Demonstrated experience creating controls standards, shared libraries, and engineering workflows from scratch rather than simply applying existing frameworks.

Advanced proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical, including the creation and organization of standardized design resources.

Extensive hands‑on experience with Allen‑Bradley hardware, Rockwell automation platforms, and Studio 5000 Logix Designer.

Strong knowledge of PLC architecture, reusable programming methods, HMI development, and industrial communication systems.

Proven ability to mentor engineers, deliver technical training, and drive consistent implementation of engineering standards across a team.

Experience providing technical leadership, resolving complex automation challenges, and improving the reliability and maintainability of control systems.

Design Hire is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Aff

Employment Eligibility if hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.