How to hire a controls designer

How to hire a controls designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step controls designer hiring guide:

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

What does a controls designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your controls designer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a controls designer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   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 controls designer 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of controls designers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Controls Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Controls Designer	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).	$33-58
   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
   • Control Panels
   • IDS
   • Auto CAD
   • I/O
   • UL
   • HMI
   • Electrical Schematics
   • Electrical Design
   • System Design
   • Drawing Packages
   • FTP
   • Architecture
   • Panel Layouts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Establish communication links and prepare machines for bench-testing to attain UL certification.
   • Engineer, draft, modify PLC programs and HMI programs, create schematics, test software with customer to their satisfaction.
   • Create the simulation with SolidWorks.
   • Create and deploy disk images for latest SolidWorks releases as needed.
   • Develop applications for HVAC, semiconductor, industrial coatings, medical, and renewable and sustainable industries.
   • Lead designer assign to smaller projects at various plants dealing with instrumentation, PLS and DCS upgrades / modifications.

   More controls designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the controls designer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A controls designer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a controls designer in New York may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level controls designer. Additionally, a controls designer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average controls designer salary

   $91,944yearly

   $44.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level controls designer salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average controls designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$116,710	$56
   2	Michigan	$104,747	$50
   3	Texas	$99,402	$48
   4	Arizona	$93,675	$45
   5	Colorado	$91,581	$44
   6	Alabama	$87,903	$42
   7	Virginia	$86,762	$42
   8	Utah	$86,660	$42
   9	Oregon	$85,499	$41
   10	Minnesota	$84,209	$40
   11	Tennessee	$82,747	$40
   12	Nevada	$81,991	$39
   13	Illinois	$79,140	$38
   14	Missouri	$78,884	$38
   15	Georgia	$75,663	$36
   16	South Carolina	$75,519	$36
   17	Florida	$73,901	$36
   18	Pennsylvania	$72,711	$35
   19	Ohio	$72,266	$35
   20	New York	$69,079	$33

   Average controls designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Visteon	$103,671	$49.84
   2	Nestlé	$95,510	$45.92	16
   3	Burns & McDonnell	$94,675	$45.52	283
   4	General Electric	$94,150	$45.26	69
   5	Morrell Group	$93,710	$45.05
   6	Ampirical	$92,856	$44.64	9
   7	SSOE Group	$92,536	$44.49	13
   8	The Walt Disney Company	$88,070	$42.34	25
   9	Fives	$86,461	$41.57	3
   10	Jacobs Engineering Group	$86,442	$41.56
   11	START	$85,775	$41.24
   12	Magneti Marelli	$85,690	$41.20
   13	Gulfstream Aerospace	$85,570	$41.14	3
   14	Barry-Wehmiller	$85,555	$41.13	115
   15	Randstad North America, Inc.	$85,467	$41.09	2
   16	Page Southerland Page	$82,706	$39.76
   17	Volition Brewing	$82,634	$39.73
   18	Amec Foster Wheeler	$82,634	$39.73
   19	Jacobs Enterprises	$82,627	$39.72	667
   20	Bernhard Link Theatrical Llc	$82,623	$39.72

4. Writing a controls designer job description

   A good controls designer 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 controls designer job description:

   Controls designer job description example

   Title:
   Instrumentation & Controls Designer
   
   Instrumentation & Controls Designer
   Are you currently an instrumentation & controls (I&C) technician looking for a career change? I&C designers work in computer aided design (CAD) program to create/modify drawings to hand-off to construction. No formal experience in CAD is required. We are seeking individuals with industrial instrumentation and controls knowledge that are motivated to learn new skills, enjoy being problem solvers, and are looking to advance their career.
   
   Responsibilities:
   Develop design and drawings to install electrical components and systems.CAD drafting and production of electrical specifications Collaborate with project team to meet technical data package.Select, specify and document purchased components and materials.
   
   Requirements/Qualifications
   5-15 years-experience working as an instrumentation and controls technician in industrial or construction sector. No prior job experience related to design is needed.
   Working knowledge of CAD (computer aided design) a plus.Strong communication skills Competency in MS Office software Punctuality and organizational skills with ability to deliver project design in a timely manner.
   
   BENEFITS
   KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits, which could include a 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.
   
   INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AT KBR
   At KBR, we are passionate about our people, sustainability and our Zero Harm culture.
   
   These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to and ongoing journey toward being a more inclusive and diverse company. That commitment is central to our team of teams philosophy and fosters an environment of real collaboration across cultures and locations. Our individual differences and perspectives bring enhanced value to our teams and help us develop solutions for the most challenging problems. We understand that by embracing those differences and working together, we are more innovative, more resilient and safer.
   
   We Deliver - Together.
   
   In compliance with the U.S. federal government's vaccine mandate, only candidates who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a reasonable accommodation or approved medical exception will be considered for this position.
   
   KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right controls designer 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 controls designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit controls designers 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 controls designer job on Zippia to find and recruit controls designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit controls designers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 controls designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the controls designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new controls designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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