Principal Controls Engineer

Principal Controls EngineerLocation: Indianapolis, IN | Fully Onsite | Senior / Principal LevelMinimal Travel: 10-15%About the RoleWe are partnering with a specialized engineering and manufacturing organization in Indianapolis that designs and integrates advanced automated equipment for highly regulated industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, nuclear medicine, and life sciences.The company is expanding its Controls & Automation division and is seeking a Principal Controls Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority, helping establish the engineering standards, programming architectures, and electrical design infrastructure that will support the department's long-term growth.This is a highly technical, hands-on leadership opportunity for an experienced engineer who has built controls systems and engineering standards from the ground up. The successful candidate will play a critical role in transitioning the organization's automation capabilities toward Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC-based systems while developing scalable electrical design and programming practices.Rather than simply executing individual projects, this individual will have significant ownership over how the company's controls engineering processes, systems, and technical standards are developed moving forward.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the development and standardization of electrical controls engineering practices across the organization.Build and configure AutoCAD Electrical environments from the ground up, including project templates, standardized schematics, component libraries, and shared network databases.Establish automated electrical design workflows utilizing AutoCAD Electrical's intelligent features, including terminal block layouts, automated bills of materials (BOMs), and database-driven component management.Develop Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC programs from scratch, establishing scalable programming architectures and standardized development practices.Create and maintain reusable PLC code libraries, including Add-On Instructions (AOIs), to improve engineering efficiency and consistency across projects.Support the integration of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, automated doors, safety interlocks, HVAC controls, and pressure regulation systems into specialized automated equipment.Help drive the transition from legacy building automation platforms toward more advanced industrial PLC-based control systems.Partner with engineering leadership to establish department-wide technical standards, documentation procedures, and best practices.Mentor and train junior controls engineers, providing technical guidance in electrical design, PLC programming, troubleshooting, and system integration.Serve as a senior technical resource throughout equipment design, development, testing, commissioning, and implementation.QualificationsExtensive professional experience in controls engineering, industrial automation, or electrical engineering, ideally within custom equipment manufacturing or systems integration.Expert-level proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical, including demonstrated experience building complete engineering environments and standardized design infrastructure from scratch.Strong understanding of AutoCAD Electrical's intelligent functionality, including component databases, shared libraries, terminal block management, and automated BOM generation.Advanced Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC programming experience, with the ability to develop complete programs and control architectures independently.Demonstrated experience developing reusable PLC programming standards, Add-On Instructions (AOIs), and structured code libraries.Strong knowledge of electrical control systems, control panel design, industrial networking, HMI development, and automation integration.Experience integrating automation components such as VFDs, actuators, safety systems, and process or environmental controls.Ability to establish engineering standards and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.Experience mentoring engineers and supporting the technical development of an engineering team.Strong troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.Experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing, life sciences, cleanroom environments, or other highly regulated industries is advantageous but not required.Why Consider This Opportunity?Technical Ownership: Take a leading role in establishing the electrical design and PLC programming standards for a growing automation department.High-Level Influence: Work directly with engineering leadership to shape the technical direction and long-term capabilities of the organization.Advanced Engineering Projects: Develop sophisticated automation systems for specialized equipment used in pharmaceutical, medical, and other highly regulated applications.Department Growth: Help build a scalable controls engineering function while mentoring and developing the next generation of engineers.Work-Life Balance: Fully onsite position in Indianapolis with minimal travel requirements.Competitive Compensation: Salary targeting approximately $155,000, depending on experience.Organizational Stability: Join an established engineering and manufacturing business with the resources to support continued technical investment and growth.This opportunity is particularly well suited for a senior-level controls engineer who has already developed electrical design standards and PLC programming architectures in a previous organization and is looking to take greater ownership of an engineering department's technical direction.Interested in Learning More?If you have extensive experience with AutoCAD Electrical infrastructure development and Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC programming, and you're interested in a hands-on technical leadership opportunity, I'd welcome the chance to connect.Please reach out directly to learn more about the position and discuss whether it aligns with your experience and career goals.For more information, please contact James Hanson at Engtal, who is managing the search:J.hanson@engtal.com