Lead Control Systems Engineer

Lead Control Systems Engineer

This is a remote position with travel - including day and overnight travel within Iowa and periodic overnight travel throughout the Midwest.

Automatic Systems Company is an industry-leading provider of water, wastewater, and industrial control systems. We are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to our clients. With a focus on excellence and continuous improvement, we strive to make a significant impact in the field of automation and control systems.

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Control Systems Engineer to provide advanced programming services for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), primarily supporting municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities. This role is responsible for leading control system development, startup, commissioning, and customer coordination for large-scale SCADA projects.

The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise in PLC/HMI platforms, experience commissioning complex control systems, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. This position offers the opportunity to work on critical infrastructure projects supporting municipal water and wastewater systems and industrial control systems while helping shape secure and modern control systems for essential public utilities.

Key duties and essential functions include:

• Develop and write PLC and HMI programs for medium and large-scale, complex municipal water and wastewater SCADA systems.
• Assist with performing Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) to validate PLC and HMI programs ensuring they meet safety and quality standards. Design and perform simulations to verify the logic and functionality of the control systems.
• Perform full project startup and control system commissioning, including instrumentation, motor control devices, and related equipment.
• Serve as technical lead on assigned projects, providing guidance to engineers, technicians, and subcontractors.
• Commission and troubleshoot communications networks including fiber optic systems, radio telemetry, broadband, and other associated technologies. Primary communication protocols include Ether Net/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, OPC UA, and MQTT.
• Support implementation of industrial cybersecurity best practices including network segmentation, user access management, secure remote access, and backup strategies.
• Develop, review, and manage all project documentation in accordance with company standards and project-specific requirements.
• Communicate effectively with customers throughout design, construction, startup, and aftermarket support phases.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and problem resolution during system integration and post-installation.
• Support proposal development, scope definition, and technical review when required.

Supervisory responsibilities include none.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field preferred. Equivalent experience and/or an Associate degree in an automation-related field. 10+ years of relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive programming experience in industrial automation and control systems, including:
• PLC programming such as Allen-Bradley Studio 5000, RSLogix 500, Modicon, Siemens S7, GE PAC Systems, or similar platforms.
• HMI programming such as Wonderware, Factory Talk View SE, Ignition, VT SCADA, Cimplicity, Intellution, or similar platforms.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale municipal water and wastewater SCADA projects.
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation, motor control systems, process control strategies, and system integration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with field personnel, engineers, contractors, management, and municipal clients.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and implement new technologies and industry best practices.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel within assigned…