
Top Echelon
Controls Engineer – Hybrid | Houston, TX
A leading U.S.-based engineering and systems integration firm with over four decades of industry excellence is hiring a Controls Engineer to join their Houston team. Known for their employee-owned model and consistent top rankings in engineering firm listings, this company offers a collaborative, growth-oriented environment where engineers can thrive on innovative industrial automation projects.
About the RoleThis hybrid Controls Engineer role is ideal for someone with a strong foundation in DCS/PLC/SCADA/HMI programming, industrial hardware design, and end-to-end systems integration. You’ll work on high-impact projects across energy, utilities, and infrastructure, leading technical development and supporting migrations to cutting-edge platforms like Ignition.
What You’ll Be DoingTechnical Execution
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Deliver process control systems using DCS/PLC/SCADA/HMI platforms
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Program and integrate systems including Allen Bradley PLCs and Ignition SCADA
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Design instrumentation, network architecture, and electrical layouts
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Support installation, testing, and startup phases for industrial control systems
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Maintain and evolve internal standards and documentation tools
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Reverse engineer legacy Wonderware systems and migrate them to Ignition Vision
Project Engagement
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Report project status, estimate completion timelines, and flag roadblocks
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Participate in project reviews, internal standups, and client meetings
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Align your work with customer specifications and evolving project scopes
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Offer input on risk management, engineering best practices, and technical feasibility
Business and Collaboration
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Build client relationships during project delivery
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Contribute to technical proposals and project estimates
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Collaborate with team members across remote and local offices
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Provide training and post-deployment support on Ignition platforms
Minimum Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Controls, Chemical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering
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2+ years of experience with control systems, commissioning, and SCADA/HMI platforms
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Strong experience with:
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Ignition SCADA
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Allen Bradley PLCs
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Wonderware Archestra
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Industrial design schematics (P&IDs, I/O lists, panel layouts, etc.)
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Familiarity with Ladder Logic, SFC, Structured Text, and/or Function Block
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Working knowledge of Python, JavaScript, C++, or .NET
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint)
Nice to Have
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Experience with Modbus, Emerson ROC/ABB Totalflow, or Red Lion hardware
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Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and ISA S88 batch models
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Network design and virtualized environments
LocationHouston, TX (Hybrid – 2–3 days onsite)
Perks
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100% employee-owned company
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Long-standing industry reputation
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Career growth in automation and integration technologies