The Controls Design Engineer – Controls & Electrical is responsible for technical validation and solution definition during the pre‑sales phase, with a primary focus on mechanical design validation, preliminary electrical and controls concept development, and accurate estimation of electrical equipment and labor.
This role serves as the technical bridge between Sales, Mechanical Engineering, and Controls/Electrical Engineering, ensuring MHE projects (conveyors, AS/RS, robotics, sortation, and associated industrial automation technologies) are sold with realistic scope, cost, and execution assumptions—reducing downstream change, rework, and margin erosion.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Review and validate mechanical designs and layouts for controls and electrical feasibility
- Identify technical risks, gaps, or constructability concerns early
- Ensure proposed solutions align with KPI standards, preferred architecture, and delivery model
- Develop preliminary electrical system concepts using IEC/US standards, customer specifications and KPI guidelines, including:
- Control panel approach
- Power distribution strategy
- Calculate power requirements and ratings for single line diagrams and control panels
- Network and controls architecture assumptions
- Develop and release bill of materials for panels and field devices
- Utilize Autodesk ACAD-E and other KPI custom tools to complete drawings for control panels, power distribution single lines, conveyor layouts, and other electrical drawings as required
- Define high‑level Controls scope and integration approach
- Collaborate with Controls and Electrical Engineering leads to ensure feasibility
- Estimate electrical equipment, including panels, devices, power distribution, and field components
- Develop electrical and controls engineering labor estimates.
- Partner with Sales to support technical proposal development, provide understanding of cost drivers and tradeoffs, clean handoff to execution teams post‑award.
- Documentation & Compliance
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent engineering qualifications.
- 5+ years of proven experience supporting pre‑sales, applications engineering, or technical estimation.
- Knowledge of NEC and NFPA and UL508A
- Experience using AutoCAD-Electrical (ACAD-E) to create, read and interpret electrical drawings and schematics is required.
- Knowledge of Allen Bradley electrical products.
- Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, Profinet, etc.).
- Experience with conveyor and MHE control systems (sorters, conveyors, palletizers, panel electrical components, field electrical components etc), safety PLCs, machine automation and interfacing with PLC/Software.
- Strong communication and documentation skills.
- Ability to lead technical conversations with customers and cross-functional teams.
- Capable of managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.
Benefits
- Competitive salary of 110000-130000 USD/year
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Health Care Concierge Service
- 401(k) Retirement Plan (Pre-tax & Roth)
- Company paid Basic Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
- Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
- Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Milk Stork Program
- Wellness Program with gift card redemption and wellness challenges
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & 10 Holidays)
- Training & Development
KPI Solutions provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by states, federal, or local law.
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent, 5+ years in pre-sales, applications engineering, or technical estimation, AutoCAD Electrical experience, industrial networking, automation, and MHE controls knowledge.
Key Responsibilities
- validating designs
- estimating equipment
- developing concepts
Skills & Tools
AutoCAD Electrical, Autodesk ACAD-E, NEC, NFPA, UL508A, Allen Bradley, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, Profinet, PLC, KPI custom tools, IEC
Job Details
- Category: Engineering
- Seniority: Senior Level
- Commitment: Full Time
- Workplace: Remote — United States
- Salary: USD 110,000 – 130,000 / year
- Languages: English
Benefits
- 401k matching
- Generous paid time off
- Retirement plan
About KPI Solutions
A systems integrator combining material handling equipment, information systems, software, and automation engineering to improve customer operations. — Industry: Manufacturing