Principal Controls Engineer

Principal Controls Engineer – Siemens

Who You'll Work With
You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as a Principal Controls Engineer, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. Design Group is widely known as an industry leader, recognized as a top system integrator, ranking #9 in the 2025 System Integrator Giants; as a Rockwell Platinum Integrator, the highest designation given to Rockwell partners; and as an Ignition Enterprise Premier Integrator. As a Siemens specialist, you will be the firm's technical authority on Siemens automation platforms, working with industry leading experts and participating in key industry events.

You will play a critical leadership role within Design Group's Control System Integration Practice. You will collaborate with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver innovative, top-tier solutions to our clients and help define the direction and standards for controls in industries ranging from food & beverage to automotive, pharmaceutical, and industrial chemicals.

What You'll Do
You'll work individually and in teams to support capital projects and implement solutions for our clients. Together, you will help our clients make critical changes to improve their performance and realize their most important goals.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical authority for the firm for Siemens process and packaging control systems, with mastery in Step7, TIA Portal, and WinCC.
• Spearhead project teams through complex automation project life cycles using Siemens platforms, ensuring technical excellence and accountability across all phases—from conceptual design to site startup and client handover. Ensure that project delivery meets quality, schedule, and cost targets and that solutions comply with all regulatory, safety, and security standards.
• Mentor, develop, and review the work of engineers at all levels, elevating the technical expertise of the organization in Siemens technologies.
• Support the development and implementation of firmwide standards and best practices for Siemens-based process automation and controls in manufacturing environments.
• Partner directly with key clients to understand needs, define project requirements, articulate Siemens-based solutions, and build lasting relationships based on trust and delivery of world-class outcomes.
• Champion client-focused innovation, evaluating new Siemens technologies and creative approaches to deliver exceptional value, quality, and performance.
• Participate in business development strategy, project opportunity reviews, and proposal preparation for high-value and complex Siemens automation projects.

What You'll Bring

• Minimum of 15 years of controls engineering experience, including significant project leadership roles and client-facing responsibilities in manufacturing environments.
• Expertise with Siemens PLC programming (S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200, S7-1500 series), TIA Portal, SIMATIC STEP 7 software
• Working knowledge of PCS7 distributed control systems
• Competency with WinCC and WinCC Unified for HMI/SCADA development
• Proficiency with Siemens PROFINET and PROFIBUS networking protocols
• Experience with Siemens drives, motion control systems, and SIMATIC safety systems
• Substantial experience with process instrumentation, industrial networking, Siemens PLC/SCADA architectures, and integration with process systems.
• Demonstrated history of leading teams in the successful delivery of Siemens-based automation projects.
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to inspire teams, engage with clients at executive and plant levels, and convey complex technical information clearly to all audiences.
• Experience with proposal development, project estimation, and scope definition for Siemens controls projects.
• Aptitude for troubleshooting, creative problem solving, and delivering innovative technical solutions in demanding environments.
• Recognition as a technical leader or subject matter expert in professional or industry settings; participation in practice groups, conferences, or standards committees is a plus.
• Willingness to travel as required for project and client needs, including installations, startup support, strategic meetings, training, and industry events.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering (Master's and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred).

Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As a Principal Controls Engineer, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world-class engineer and a highly effective leader.

Feel like you're on the path to becoming a Principal Controls Engineer but you're not quite there yet? We'd love to connect with you to see if we can take you from where you are today and grow you into a Design Group Engineering Consultant.