Lead Controls Design Engineer

Lead Controls Design Engineer role for an onsite position in Denver, CO, delivering controls architecture and electrical design packages for industrial automation and mission-critical infrastructure programs. This position supports full project delivery, from concept and customer requirements through fabrication, FAT, installation, commissioning, and final as-builts. Work is centered on buildable engineering drawings in AutoCAD, PLC/SCADA and Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS) design, and coordination across multi-contributor engineering efforts.

Compensation: USD 80,000 - 130,000 per year. Minimum experience: 2+ years.

What you’ll work on

• Industrial automation control system architectures for mission-critical programs
• Electrical and controls schematics, layouts, and power distribution designs
• PLC, SCADA, HMI, and distributed I/O hardware and network architectures
• EPMS for data centers and critical facilities
• Industrial Ethernet networks, communication topologies, and equipment interfaces
• Control panel designs, field wiring details, and equipment interface drawings
• Standardized, reusable drawing templates and engineering documentation
• Scalable, multi-site designs for large programmatic deployments

Responsibilities

• Lead controls design activities from initial concept and customer requirements through fabrication, installation, commissioning, and final documentation.
• Personally develop detailed electrical and controls drawings using AutoCAD.
• Design complete industrial automation systems, including schematics, panel layouts, power distribution, I/O, terminations, and network diagrams.
• Engineer PLC and I/O hardware configurations and industrial communication architectures.
• Develop detailed bills of materials (component selections, part numbers, quantities, and specifications).
• Interpret customer specifications, single-line diagrams, P&IDs, and equipment documentation to produce executable engineering designs.
• Establish drawing standards, engineering details, design practices, and deliverable expectations.
• Coordinate CAD resources, assign work, manage priorities, and oversee drawing revisions and schedules.
• Review engineering packages for technical accuracy, completeness, coordination, and manufacturability.
• Lead PLC, SCADA, HMI, and network topology development, including redundancy and segmentation.
• Design EPMS and associated controls and communication architectures.
• Support integration of UPS systems, ATS equipment, switchgear, protective relays, meters, and intelligent electrical devices.
• Provide occasional PLC programming, configuration, testing, and troubleshooting support.
• Ensure designs align with applicable UL, NEC, NFPA, and project-specific requirements.
• Provide engineering support during panel fabrication, FAT, installation, and commissioning.
• Resolve design discrepancies, integration issues, and field-driven changes.
• Drive standardized engineering solutions across large, multi-site customer programs.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, electrical design, or a related discipline, with the technical ability to lead design activities.
• Strong hands-on experience creating detailed electrical and controls drawings in AutoCAD.
• Proven ability to independently design complete industrial automation control systems.
• Experience coordinating, reviewing, and delivering multi-contributor engineering packages.
• Working knowledge of Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric, and Siemens automation hardware.
• Experience with PLC/SCADA architectures, industrial networking, and distributed I/O.
• Proficiency in control panel design, power distribution, field wiring, equipment interfaces, and BOM development.
• Knowledge of Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP/IP for industrial communication networks.
• Experience supporting panel fabrication, field integration, and commissioning.
• Strong technical judgment, attention to detail, communication skills, and project ownership.

Technologies

AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Rockwell Studio 5000, Schneider EcoStruxure, Siemens COMOS, Siemens TIA Portal, PLC, SCADA, HMI, distributed I/O, EPMS, Industrial Ethernet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, UPS systems, ATS equipment, switchgear, protective relays, meters, intelligent electrical devices, P&IDs, UL, NEC, NFPA.