Lead PLC Design Engineer
About the role:
The Lead PLC Design Engineer provides technical leadership and oversight for the design, documentation, and implementation of PLC-based control systems across multiple projects. This role is responsible for guiding engineering teams, ensuring design consistency, and maintaining high standards of quality and execution.
Serving as a key liaison between engineering leadership and project teams, the Lead Engineer drives best practices, supports team development, and ensures alignment with company standards and project objectives. This position plays a critical role in advancing design capabilities, improving workflows, and delivering scalable, high-quality engineering solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Design & Project Execution
Lead the design and development of PLC-based control systems, including control panel layouts, wiring diagrams, schematics, and network architectures.
Develop complete PLC I/O architectures, point-to-point wiring diagrams, loop drawings, and device connection details.
Design and document industrial control panels, including power distribution, grounding, component layout, and enclosure configuration.
Develop system layouts using floor plans to integrate control panels, field devices, instrumentation, and network infrastructure.
Engineer industrial network architectures, including Ethernet/IP layouts, switch configurations, device addressing, and communication structures.
Translate mechanical, electrical, and process drawings into coordinated control system designs.
Prepare and review submittals, bills of material (BOMs), device schedules, and construction documentation.
Project Coordination & Technical Leadership
Assist management with workload planning, project assignments, and resource allocation.
Identify skill gaps and support development of training plans to enhance team capabilities.
Promote adoption of design standards, templates, and engineering best practices.
Lead design efforts for assigned projects, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and technical requirements.
Coordinate with Project Managers, engineers, programmers, panel shops, and field teams to ensure successful execution.
Generate and respond to RFIs to resolve design clarifications.
Identify and resolve design conflicts, missing information, and coordination issues across disciplines.
Support commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting activities as needed.
Quality Standards & Continuous Improvement
Perform and lead QA/QC reviews of drawings, submittals, and as-built documentation.
Ensure compliance with company standards, CAD practices, and applicable codes (NEC, NFPA, UL 508A).
Mentor and provide technical guidance to entry-level and junior designers/engineers.
Contribute to development and refinement of design standards, templates, and workflows.
Maintain organized project documentation, revisions, and design records throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Electrical.
Expert-level understanding of PLC-based control systems, panel design, and industrial networks.
Strong knowledge of applicable codes and standards (NEC, NFPA, UL 508A).
Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, or supervisory experience.
Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Experience
7+ years of experience in controls design, electrical design, or industrial automation.
Proven experience delivering complete control system design packages.
Experience coordinating across disciplines and supporting project execution.
Experience with commissioning, startup, or troubleshooting preferred.
Experience with Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley platforms (ControlLogix, CompactLogix).
Familiarity with Revit, Bluebeam, or other design/documentation tools.
Experience with industrial or mission-critical systems (HVAC, chiller plants, process systems, data centers).
Physical Requirements
Sit and/or stand for extended periods (typically 6-8 hours per day) while performing computer-based tasks and facility support tasks.
Use hands and fingers to operate standard office equipment, including computers, keyboards, mice, telephones, scanners and printers.
Occasionally stand, walk, bend, stoop, or reach to access filing cabinets, retrieve documents, or attend meetings.
Lift, carry, push, or pull light objects and materials weighing up to 20-25 pounds (e.g., boxes of files or office supplies).
Have sufficient vision (with or without correction) to read computer screens, printed documents, and small print; and sufficient hearing to communicate effectively by phone and in person.
Work in a typical indoor office environment with moderate noise levels from office equipment, conversations, and occasional interruptions.
Apply To This Job
The Lead PLC Design Engineer provides technical leadership and oversight for the design, documentation, and implementation of PLC-based control systems across multiple projects. This role is responsible for guiding engineering teams, ensuring design consistency, and maintaining high standards of quality and execution.
Serving as a key liaison between engineering leadership and project teams, the Lead Engineer drives best practices, supports team development, and ensures alignment with company standards and project objectives. This position plays a critical role in advancing design capabilities, improving workflows, and delivering scalable, high-quality engineering solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Design & Project Execution
Lead the design and development of PLC-based control systems, including control panel layouts, wiring diagrams, schematics, and network architectures.
Develop complete PLC I/O architectures, point-to-point wiring diagrams, loop drawings, and device connection details.
Design and document industrial control panels, including power distribution, grounding, component layout, and enclosure configuration.
Develop system layouts using floor plans to integrate control panels, field devices, instrumentation, and network infrastructure.
Engineer industrial network architectures, including Ethernet/IP layouts, switch configurations, device addressing, and communication structures.
Translate mechanical, electrical, and process drawings into coordinated control system designs.
Prepare and review submittals, bills of material (BOMs), device schedules, and construction documentation.
Project Coordination & Technical Leadership
Assist management with workload planning, project assignments, and resource allocation.
Identify skill gaps and support development of training plans to enhance team capabilities.
Promote adoption of design standards, templates, and engineering best practices.
Lead design efforts for assigned projects, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and technical requirements.
Coordinate with Project Managers, engineers, programmers, panel shops, and field teams to ensure successful execution.
Generate and respond to RFIs to resolve design clarifications.
Identify and resolve design conflicts, missing information, and coordination issues across disciplines.
Support commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting activities as needed.
Quality Standards & Continuous Improvement
Perform and lead QA/QC reviews of drawings, submittals, and as-built documentation.
Ensure compliance with company standards, CAD practices, and applicable codes (NEC, NFPA, UL 508A).
Mentor and provide technical guidance to entry-level and junior designers/engineers.
Contribute to development and refinement of design standards, templates, and workflows.
Maintain organized project documentation, revisions, and design records throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Electrical.
Expert-level understanding of PLC-based control systems, panel design, and industrial networks.
Strong knowledge of applicable codes and standards (NEC, NFPA, UL 508A).
Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, or supervisory experience.
Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Experience
7+ years of experience in controls design, electrical design, or industrial automation.
Proven experience delivering complete control system design packages.
Experience coordinating across disciplines and supporting project execution.
Experience with commissioning, startup, or troubleshooting preferred.
Experience with Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley platforms (ControlLogix, CompactLogix).
Familiarity with Revit, Bluebeam, or other design/documentation tools.
Experience with industrial or mission-critical systems (HVAC, chiller plants, process systems, data centers).
Physical Requirements
Sit and/or stand for extended periods (typically 6-8 hours per day) while performing computer-based tasks and facility support tasks.
Use hands and fingers to operate standard office equipment, including computers, keyboards, mice, telephones, scanners and printers.
Occasionally stand, walk, bend, stoop, or reach to access filing cabinets, retrieve documents, or attend meetings.
Lift, carry, push, or pull light objects and materials weighing up to 20-25 pounds (e.g., boxes of files or office supplies).
Have sufficient vision (with or without correction) to read computer screens, printed documents, and small print; and sufficient hearing to communicate effectively by phone and in person.
Work in a typical indoor office environment with moderate noise levels from office equipment, conversations, and occasional interruptions.
Apply To This Job