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What does a Control Systems Engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a Control Systems Engineer do

Control systems engineers are interdisciplinary engineers managing the company's control systems. They are expected to be familiar with different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, industrial, and computer science, among others. They are responsible for designing systems based on the company's requirements. Control systems engineers must conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the company's requirements can be met. They are also responsible for developing the systems, creating prototypes, and testing. They test whether the control systems produce desired results. After testing, control systems engineers implement the system and conduct routine maintenance checks.

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Control systems engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real control systems engineer resumes:

  • 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.
  • Devise and programme control algorithm for the model car to perform path tracking and simulate on MATLAB Simulink.
  • Provide extensive field support to troubleshoot communication & system integration issues.
  • power transformers, switchgears, MCC's, etc . )
  • Used Java, MySQL to create a dynamic reporting system.
  • Subject matter expert on DeltaV design, configuration and operations.
  • Develop and streamline SQL queries to retrieve and store the data.
  • Provide all analyzers for project in all units in both plants.
  • Introduce new redundancy in trip control logic to comply with NFPA code.
  • Maintain necessary documentation according to ISO, which is helpful during audit period.

Control systems engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Control Systems Engineers are proficient in PLC, HMI, and C++. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Initiative, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Control Systems Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PLC, 9%

    Developed, installed, and performed troubleshooting of factory automation PLC based diagnostic software that enabled reduced machine downtime.

  • HMI, 8%

    Advanced HMI development and programming incorporating ActiveX controls.

  • C++, 7%

    Developed object-oriented firmware for internally designed hardware using object-oriented C++ (modeled using UML).

  • MATLAB, 6%

    Used code generation tools in MATLAB to generate C code for use by on-board ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

  • Simulink, 5%

    Designed Mastered skills in MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, analysis and control of dynamic system.

  • Troubleshoot, 4%

    Upgrade and troubleshoot existing pipeline station and substations electrical and control systems, including Safety Systems.

Common skills that a control systems engineer uses to do their job include "plc," "hmi," and "c++." You can find details on the most important control systems engineer responsibilities below.

Concentration. One of the key soft skills for a control systems engineer to have is concentration. You can see how this relates to what control systems engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Additionally, a control systems engineer resume shows how control systems engineers use concentration: "performed all dcs point configuration and graphics building for the fccu and gas concentration units. "

Initiative. Another essential skill to perform control systems engineer duties is initiative. Control systems engineers responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Control systems engineers also use initiative in their role according to a real resume snippet: "supported caterpillar 6 sigma initiatives with suppliers. "

Math skills. This is an important skill for control systems engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how control systems engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a control systems engineer: "control systems analysis and design development of physics-based mathematical models. ".

Speaking skills. A big part of what control systems engineers do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to control systems engineer responsibilities because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical control systems engineer tasks: "prepared and presented cutover plans for #1 reformer dcs upgrade project. "

Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in control systems engineer job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what control systems engineers do. Control systems engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." You can also see how control systems engineer duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "control systems support for power generation plant cyber security assessments * reviewing and re-writing contractor test plans for new skid"

Most common control systems engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most control systems engineers are:

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Compare different control systems engineers

Control systems engineer vs. Senior pcb designer

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. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.

We looked at the average control systems engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a senior pcb designer. Generally speaking, senior pcb designers are paid $10,022 higher than control systems engineers per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both control systems engineer and senior pcb designer positions are skilled in ethernet, autocad, and unix.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between control systems engineers and senior pcb designer. For instance, control systems engineer responsibilities require skills such as "plc," "hmi," "c++," and "matlab." Whereas a senior pcb designer is skilled in "rf," "schematic capture," "pcb layout," and "analog." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, senior pcb designers reach lower levels of education than control systems engineers. Senior pcb designers are 12.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Control systems engineer vs. Engineering trainee

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. As a telecommunication engineer, you are also required to provide guidance and support to telecommunication installers to ensure quality. You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.

On average, engineering trainees earn a $32,492 lower salary than control systems engineers a year.A few skills overlap for control systems engineers and engineering trainees. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "plc," "c++," and "matlab. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that control systems engineer responsibilities requires skills like "hmi," "troubleshoot," "project management," and "allen-bradley." But an engineering trainee might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "fire protection," "boilers," "geotechnical," and "python."

Engineering trainees earn a lower average salary than control systems engineers. But engineering trainees earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $63,253. Additionally, control systems engineers earn the highest salaries in the automotive with average pay of $92,020 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Engineering trainees tend to reach similar levels of education than control systems engineers. In fact, they're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Control systems engineer vs. Telecommunication engineer

Staff design engineers are tasked to assess the efficiency of instruments, technologies, and equipment by collaborating with the engineering team to plan, design, and develop technologies efficiently. Their responsibilities include building and setting up, as wells as improving systems and procedures. They should possess strong attention to detail, good visual and spatial awareness, creativity, problem-solving, excellent verbal, written, and project management skills, and strong mathematical and IT skills to become efficient and effective staff design engineers.

An average telecommunication engineer eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of control systems engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to telecommunication engineers earning a $11,938 lower average salary than control systems engineers.Using the responsibilities included on control systems engineers and telecommunication engineers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "project management," "technical support," and "ethernet.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from control systems engineer resumes include skills like "plc," "hmi," "c++," and "matlab," whereas a telecommunication engineer is more likely to list skills in "telecommunication," "voip," "rf," and "switches. "

Telecommunication engineers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $102,087. On the other hand, control systems engineers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $92,020.Most telecommunication engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to control systems engineers. For example, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Control systems engineer vs. Staff design engineer

Staff design engineers typically earn higher pay than control systems engineers. On average, staff design engineers earn a $35,344 higher salary per year.While both control systems engineers and staff design engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like c++, project management, and ethernet, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between control systems engineers and staff design engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a control systems engineer might have more use for skills like "plc," "hmi," "matlab," and "simulink." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of staff design engineers require skills like "architecture," "rf," "synthesis," and "analog. "

The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for staff design engineers, with average annual pay of $127,511. Comparatively, the highest control systems engineer annual salary comes from the automotive industry.In general, staff design engineers hold higher degree levels compared to control systems engineers. Staff design engineers are 5.6% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of control systems engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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