How to hire a control systems engineer

How to hire a control systems engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step control systems engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a control systems engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new control systems engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a control systems engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The control systems engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect control systems engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents control systems engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Control Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Control Systems Engineer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$34-56
   Engineering Trainee	An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research... Show more	$20-39
   Telecommunication Engineer	A telecommunication engineer is responsible for installing, testing, and repairing telecommunication systems including mobile telephone networks and fiber optic and digital satellite systems. Your day-to-day duties include diagnosing and troubleshooting systems faults, installing static and mobile antennae on masts and buildings, and designing, developing, and testing telecommunications equipment and components... Show more	$28-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PLC
   • HMI
   • C++
   • MATLAB
   • Simulink
   • Troubleshoot
   • Project Management
   • Allen-Bradley
   • Engineering Design
   • Control System Design
   • Technical Support
   • Ethernet
   • Java
   • CAD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the development of smarter controls utilizing DeviceNet and Profibus architecture.
   • Establish communication links and prepare machines for bench-testing to attain UL certification.
   • Research NFPA, ISA, NEC, OSHA, specs and standards.
   • Install Allen-Bradley PLCS, interface to DCS.
   • Set up Ethernet communications from K-tron feeders back to DCS.
   • Assist commissioning team of gas analyzers for ISO compliance of equipment.

   More control systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your control systems engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A control systems engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, control systems engineers' average salary in montana is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level control systems engineers earn 39% less than senior-level control systems engineers.
   • Certifications. A control systems engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a control systems engineer's salary.

   Average control systems engineer salary

   $92,727yearly

   $44.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level control systems engineer salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average control systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$123,347	$59
   2	Texas	$102,902	$49
   3	Washington	$102,079	$49
   4	Massachusetts	$100,484	$48
   5	Virginia	$97,608	$47
   6	Michigan	$93,727	$45
   7	Arizona	$91,456	$44
   8	New York	$91,158	$44
   9	Georgia	$89,486	$43
   10	Florida	$88,029	$42
   11	Minnesota	$87,882	$42
   12	Tennessee	$87,232	$42
   13	New Hampshire	$86,722	$42
   14	Alabama	$86,668	$42
   15	Oregon	$84,694	$41
   16	Louisiana	$82,767	$40
   17	North Carolina	$82,739	$40
   18	Ohio	$80,782	$39
   19	Pennsylvania	$80,573	$39
   20	South Carolina	$80,211	$39

   Average control systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$131,098	$63.03	231
   2	Waymo	$116,817	$56.16	13
   3	Zoox	$116,217	$55.87	26
   4	Uber Technologies	$110,837	$53.29
   5	Chewy	$110,083	$52.92	1
   6	Chevron	$108,853	$52.33	4
   7	Genentech	$108,320	$52.08	9
   8	Texas Instruments	$107,712	$51.78	46
   9	CF Industries	$107,580	$51.72	1
   10	Cheniere Energy	$107,492	$51.68
   11	Applied Materials	$107,283	$51.58	42
   12	Exxon Mobil	$106,838	$51.36	24
   13	General Motors	$103,904	$49.95	196
   14	Rivian	$103,888	$49.95	25
   15	Kraton	$103,850	$49.93	1
   16	Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory	$103,164	$49.60
   17	Entegris	$103,154	$49.59	2
   18	Celanese	$102,662	$49.36	1
   19	Lam Research	$102,047	$49.06	10
   20	Caterpillar	$101,542	$48.82	9

4. Writing a control systems engineer job description

   A good control systems engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a control systems engineer job description:

   Control systems engineer job description example

   Weatherford is a leading global energy services company. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Across our operating locations, including manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities, operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation.
   
   We are focused on technology development, digital solutions, and defining our footprint in the new energy space. Our ability to provide integrated solutions across our segments will be critical to growth in our core operations and the energy transition.
   
   Energy producers face unique challenges every day, so it is our job to create solutions that enhance safety, streamline operations, and sustain uptime to meet or exceed their targets. We operate across the global energy landscape employing some of the best diverse talent in the industry. At Weatherford, we understand the value each individual brings to the table. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are immensely proud of our workforce. We invite you to join our passionate, talented, word-class team.
   
   When you join Weatherford, you instantly feel connected to something bigger - a community that is grounded by our core values and driven to create innovative solutions for our customers. We celebrate each other's successes, grow together, and learn from each other constantly. Individually, we are impressive. Together, we are unstoppable. We are One Weatherford.
   
   Weatherford offers competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits program and provides you a challenging and enriching career path, with a healthy balance of structure and flexibility to chart your own course. We are focused on providing a challenging and enriching career path with a healthy balance of structure and flexibility to chart your own course. We are an innovative, global company with wide-ranging opportunities that include career-enhancing talent rotations. Our structured career paths will ensure that you know what it takes to build your ideal career at Weatherford when you join our Company. We also offer a comprehensive benefits program, including health insurance coverage, income protection plans, a 401(k) savings plan, Company paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation.
   
   Weatherford is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
   Responsibilities Name of Employer: Weatherford International, LLC Position Title: WISE Engineer Control Systems Managed Pressure Drilling Position Location: 2000 St. James Place, Houston, TX 77056 Hours: Mon -Fri, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Summary of Duties: Create, interpret, review, and maintain Technical Documentation for supported products and services, including schematic diagrams, diagrams, and specification sheets for MPD staff and management. Create/modify processes to generate more efficiency and clarity to the MPD Group as a whole and recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability, and assist to monitor processes for compliance with MPD Industry standards. Work with the Global MPD team and Engineering to assess MPD products and process effectiveness and to identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment. Work with Global Service Delivery and Global Product Line to compile and evaluate performance data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products across the global performance of MPD. Create/modify processes to generate more Efficiency and clarity to the MPD Group as a whole, and assist to monitor processes for compliance with MPD Industry standards. Work with Engineering to identify Engineering docs that needs to be accessed by Field and Repair & Maintenance personnel and migrate them to OEPS to be available for all. Perform software testing in conjunction with MPD Engineering team, as required. Support Training & Competency team with the MPD Training documents and with the Competency to be better evaluated and provide advice or training to MPD personnel. Qualifications Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science or related field of study AND Two (2) Years of experience in the job offered or related occupation. In lieu of a Bachelor's degree Engineering, Science or related field of study AND Two (2) Years, the employer will accept 2 additional years of work experience in the job offered or related occupation. In addition, the applicant must have demonstrative experience with: Technical/Engineering Drawings Technical Sales or Capital Sales software programs Rotating Control Heads design and operation Customer Service Operation process, design and documentation with experience in MPD Command Office suite software and enterprise applications Service Delivery and Quality Control Analysis (Process Compliance and Performance)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right control systems engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with control systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit control systems engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your control systems engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit control systems engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit control systems engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new control systems engineer

   Once you've found the control systems engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new control systems engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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