Principal Controls Engineer (15+ Years)

Who We’re Seeking

IPS is seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority, system architect, and risk owner across complex custom automation programs. This role requires deep handson expertise across electrical, controls, robotics, safety, and system integration, combined with strong decisionmaking authority and leadership presence. Salary range: $150,000–$190,000

The Principal Controls Engineer is accountable for greenfield system architecture, technical risk management, and final technical approval of delivered automation systems.

Principal Controls Engineers at IPS set engineering direction, define best practices, lead complex defenseindustry automation projects, and ensure that all delivered systems meet the highest levels of performance, safety, reliability, and security.

What You’ll Do

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP AND ARCHITECTURE

• Define endtoend automation architectures for greenfield and brownfield systems, including PLC structure, motion control, robotics, safety systems, SCADA strategy, and industrial networks.
• Establish control philosophies, system partitioning, and interface strategies before detailed design begins.
• Create, maintain, and enforce engineering standards, reusable libraries, and design methodologies across programs.
• Serve as the highestlevel technical escalation point for complex system behavior and integration challenges.
  
  

SYSTEM OWNERSHIP, RISK, AND GOVERNANCE

• Own systemlevel technical risk from concept through commissioning and production handoff.
• Lead formal technical risk assessments during early design phases.
• Identify and mitigate singlepoint failures, unsafe states, and integration risks across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
• Lead and approve FMEA, PFMEA, hazard analyses, and safety architecture decisions.
• Define fault handling, degraded operation, and recovery strategies for critical systems.
• Serve as final technical authority to approve or reject designs based on safety, reliability, or system risk.
  
  

ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE LEADERSHIP

• Demonstrate mastery of power distribution, grounding, bonding, and control power strategies.
• Review and approve control panel architectures, MCC integration, and power protection schemes.
• Evaluate electrical safety considerations including arcflash, shortcircuit risk, and fault protection.
• Ensure electrical designs support system reliability, maintainability, and efficient commissioning.
  
  

ADVANCED CONTROLS AND COMMISSIONING

• Architect highly complex PLC, safety, and motion applications for largescale turnkey systems.
• Lead or oversee multimachine and fullfacility commissioning efforts.
• Define commissioning strategies, startup sequencing, and system acceptance criteria.
• Serve as escalation authority during startup and authorize system readiness for customer acceptance.
  
  

MENTORSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Mentor senior and junior engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and technical coaching.
• Guide development of future technical leaders and controls subjectmatter experts.
• Act as technical liaison with customers, defense partners, and internal leadership.
  
  

REGULATORY AND CYBERSECURITY OVERSIGHT

• Ensure all systems comply with UL, NFPA, ISO 13849, and applicable customer safety requirements.
• Guide compliance with DoD cybersecurity requirements for industrial control systems.
• Define and validate secure network segmentation, access control, and system hardening strategies.
  
  

ORGANIZATIONAL AUTHORITY

• Empowered to halt, redirect, or rescope engineering work when technical risk, safety, or system integrity is compromised.
  
  

Who You Are (Requirements)

• 15 years of experience in automation, with leadership on largescale custom systems.
• Deep, authoritative expertise in PLCs, motion control, robotics, industrial networks, and safety systems.
• Mastery of AutoCAD Electrical and full control system architecture.
• Experienced technical mentor with history of growing engineering talent.
• Ability to lead multiple complex automation projects simultaneously.
• Strong customerfacing communication and leadership presence.
• Experience in defense, energetics, or governmentfunded systems strongly preferred.
  
  

What We Provide:

• Competitive base salary (commensurate with experience) and performance-based incentives.
• Generous employer contribution to the Employee portion of medical insurance (75 %).
• Dental, Vision, and Gap insurance offered.
• Employer-paid Life insurance and Short-Term Disability.
• 401(k) employer match and immediately vested.
• Generous paid time off policy.
  
  

IPS Custom Automation is an EEO Employer - M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status

The information listed above is not a comprehensive list of all duties/responsibilities performed. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Any physical and mental requirements described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

IPS Custom Automation is an EEO Employer - M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status