Lead Controls Engineer

Lead Controls Engineer at ENGIE North America Inc. in IOWA CITY, United States, 52242. Permanent, Full-Time.

At ENGIE, we believe reliable energy infrastructure is the foundation of a better world. We partner with institutions like the University of Iowa to operate complex utility systems that support healthcare, research, and campus life.

As a Lead Controls Engineer, you will serve as the senior technical resource for the industrial control systems, networks, applications, and infrastructure that support utility operations across campus. In this hands‑on leadership role, you will lead and develop a growing controls engineering team while helping ensure the reliability, security, and long‑term performance of critical operational technology systems.

You will work across multiple utility plants, campus buildings, electrical distribution infrastructure, metering systems, and other mission‑critical services. This role is ideal for an experienced controls professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, driving continuous improvement, establishing engineering standards, and shaping the future of automation and control system operations.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of controls engineers, entry-level staff, and interns supporting utility operations across campus while assessing staffing, training, maintenance, and support needs to enhance team effectiveness and system performance
• Serve as the senior technical resource for industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA, PLC, HMI, data historian, metering, and related operational technology platforms
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize control system hardware, software, networks, servers, and applications while providing advanced troubleshooting, root cause analysis, technical guidance, and training to engineering and maintenance teams
• Evaluate existing control systems and develop roadmaps for system upgrades, standardization, modernization, lifecycle management, and long‑term controls strategy
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, maintenance plans, work instructions, and engineering standards that support safe, reliable, and consistent operations
• Partner with ENGIE IT, cybersecurity teams, operations personnel, maintenance teams, and University stakeholders to support system reliability, compliance, and operational readiness
• Support capital projects and identify opportunities to improve reliability, cybersecurity, standardization, and future system performance

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical field with a minimum of seven (7) years of industrial controls, automation, or industrial control systems (ICS) experience; OR an associate degree in a related technical field with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience
• Minimum two (2) years of supervisory, leadership, or team development experience
• Experience with industrial control systems, automation platforms, industrial networks, and supporting infrastructure in operating industrial environments
• Hands‑on experience with PLC programming, HMI development, SCADA systems, data historians, instrumentation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and field support
• Experience supporting Windows Server environments, virtualization platforms, industrial networking equipment, system patching, backups, endpoint security, and cybersecurity practices within an OT or ICS environment
• Ability to develop and interpret technical documentation, network architecture diagrams, maintenance procedures, and engineering standards while effectively managing competing operational and project priorities
• Experience gained through military service in controls, automation,…