How to hire an electrical controls engineer

How to hire an electrical controls engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step electrical controls engineer hiring guide:

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

What does an electrical controls engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The electrical controls 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

   An electrical controls engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, electrical controls engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Electrical Controls Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Controls 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).	$29-51
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Field Engineer	A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely... Show more	$24-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HMI
   • PLC
   • Allen-Bradley
   • UL
   • Hmi Programming
   • Project Management
   • Autocad Electrical
   • Servo
   • Electrical Schematics
   • CAD
   • Wonderware
   • Electrical Design
   • Technical Support
   • NEC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Upgrade, troubleshoot and manage control systems for multiple businesses at the site location.
   • Achieve low cost solution for professional tier radio with rug full color display and USB accessory interface.
   • Introduce UL and NFPA codes and standards into electrical control panel designs.
   • Design electrical controls and safety circuits for packaging machines, applying NEC codes, UL and CSA certification.
   • Used a PID base code for precise iteration.
   • Maintain and upgrade as necessary plant DCS Ethernet interface and assure its continue operation.

   More electrical controls engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical controls engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An electrical controls engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, electrical controls engineers' average salary in ohio is 35% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level electrical controls engineers 43% less than senior-level electrical controls engineers.
   • Certifications. An electrical controls engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an electrical controls engineer's salary.

   Average electrical controls engineer salary

   $82,681yearly

   $39.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical controls engineer salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average electrical controls engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$100,976	$49
   2	Louisiana	$95,571	$46
   3	New Mexico	$95,213	$46
   4	Colorado	$91,126	$44
   5	Texas	$90,066	$43
   6	Massachusetts	$88,732	$43
   7	Virginia	$87,164	$42
   8	Utah	$87,075	$42
   9	Florida	$84,529	$41
   10	Arizona	$84,489	$41
   11	Missouri	$84,443	$41
   12	Indiana	$84,220	$40
   13	Minnesota	$82,504	$40
   14	Illinois	$79,993	$38
   15	North Carolina	$78,437	$38
   16	Michigan	$78,367	$38
   17	Georgia	$77,959	$37
   18	Wisconsin	$77,100	$37
   19	Kansas	$76,551	$37
   20	South Carolina	$72,095	$35

   Average electrical controls engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tallgrass Energy	$103,503	$49.76
   2	Koch Industries	$102,037	$49.06	1
   3	General Motors	$101,181	$48.64	111
   4	Wabtec Corporation	$98,812	$47.51	3
   5	Joby Aviation	$98,070	$47.15	11
   6	KLA	$97,430	$46.84	11
   7	Oculus	$97,222	$46.74
   8	Miller Industries	$97,203	$46.73
   9	Ford Motor	$97,014	$46.64	54
   10	National Grid plc	$97,003	$46.64
   11	Tesla	$96,948	$46.61	18
   12	BorgWarner	$96,896	$46.58	8
   13	Daimler Trucks North America	$95,041	$45.69
   14	The Clorox Company	$94,302	$45.34	10
   15	NuvoSun	$93,637	$45.02
   16	UL	$92,855	$44.64	34
   17	Kiewit	$92,468	$44.46	571
   18	BCP	$91,702	$44.09
   19	Johns Manville	$91,145	$43.82	6
   20	FCA US LLC	$90,730	$43.62	10

4. Writing an electrical controls engineer job description

   A good electrical controls 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 an electrical controls engineer job description:

   Electrical controls engineer job description example

   • 8+ years of Substation protection control design and/or field testing/commissioning experience.
   • Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, civil or related degree

   It would be nice if you had:

   • P.E license
   • Master's degree in related field
   • Field testing/commissioning experience

   In this role, you can expect to grow:

   • With opportunities for both technical and non-technical training
   • By working with different types of projects ranging from distribution to transmission level voltages
   • By participating in our mentorship program

   WHAT WE DO

   Leidos is a trusted and technology-focused solutions provider. Utilities and mobile operators rely on our Power Delivery Services Team for reliable power and telecommunication expertise, as reflected through our work with more than 50 investor-owned utilities, more than 160 municipals/cooperatives, as well as a growing number of mobile operators, local utility providers and private developers. In addition to providing engineering and project management services, Leidos works with an established group of industry-leading construction partners delivering meaningful Energy Delivery Solutions. Our recognition as an industry leader is confirmed by the latest national rankings by Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranking Leidos within the Top 10 T&D Firms, and Top 10 Power Firms. To explore and learn more, click here!

   At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

   We take care of our employees. Leidos seeks the best and the brightest, and in return, we invest in you, with an eye on your future, through career advancement, growth opportunities and continuous improvement via mentoring, formal and informal project management training and assistance with obtaining pertinent certifications. We challenge you to help solve some of the world's toughest problems, and reward you with a welcoming culture that recognizes the importance of a strong work/life balance, as well as competitive compensation and benefits. We believe that diversity and inclusion make us all better and offer the chance to have fun and make a difference.

   PDSSUBSTATION

   PowerDelivery

   Pay Range: Pay Range $94,250.00 - $145,000.00 - $195,750.00

   The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find electrical controls engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your electrical controls engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical controls engineer 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 electrical controls engineers, 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 electrical controls engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect electrical controls engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new electrical controls engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire an electrical controls engineer?