How To Become A Lead Controls Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lead controls engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Robert Saunders P.E.

Are you someone who has a passion for leading external collaborators and internal technical tools on integration work between engine inverters, model interface control points, tool drivers, and other smart embedded systems? If you have strong problem-solving, time management, and attention to detail skills, then working as Lead Controls Engineer might be the perfect job for you.

On a daily basis, Lead Controls Engineers adapt control technology to aftermarket applications for motors and other machines. They establish and constantly refine methods for designing and evaluating machine applications and control systems. They also provide engineering technical assistance to cross-functional teams for progress or resolution output.

To become a Lead Controls Engineer, you would need to complete a four-year engineering bachelor's degree. Popular coursework that will train you for your career as a Lead Controls Engineer includes fundamental engineering, geometry, physics, water supply handling, fluid mechanics, and other advanced courses. Once you have finished an approved undergraduate degree, you will need to follow the certification standards of your jurisdiction, which will possibly require a number of years of experience and an evaluation.

What general advice would you give to a lead controls engineer?

Robert Saunders P.E.

Assistant Department Head, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The job market for an electrical engineering student coming out of college is challenging right now. Many companies are still hiring electrical engineering students but, the students can't be as finicky about what jobs they are accepting. More than half of the students are starting their new jobs working remotely, which is a large shift from normal but the companies seem to be using this time to bring the new hires up to speed on policy, procedures, and industry regulations.

ScoreLead Controls EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,296

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 14.28%

Black or African American 4.95%

Hispanic or Latino 11.60%

Unknown 4.73%

White 64.25%

Gender

female 12.45%

male 87.55%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.2

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lead controls engineer

Explore lead controls engineer education requirements

Most common lead controls engineer degrees

Bachelor's

66.1 %

Master's

14.9 %

Associate

14.9 %

Start to develop specific lead controls engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
C++	12.64%
PLC	10.38%
Technical Support	7.94%
HMI	7.51%
Project Management	5.70%

Complete relevant lead controls engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead controls engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead controls engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead controls engineer resumes.

Research lead controls engineer duties and responsibilities

Develop graphical user interface computer programs to automate Simulink transient analysis of FADEC controls for helicopter gas turbine engines.
Design STATCOM RTDS system using MATLAB to test control algorithms in MarkVIcontroller.
Develop 3D assembly parts for new CTV, DVD and VCD with the use of SolidWorks & AutoCAD.
Conduct SQL queries and table updates.

Get lead controls engineer experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a lead controls engineer. The most common roles before becoming a lead controls engineer include controls engineer, senior controls engineer team lead and senior engineer.

Prepare your lead controls engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead controls engineer resume.

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