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Controls Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Specter Aerospace

Controls/PLC Engineer II

Peabody, MA · On-site

$92K - $119K/yr

Controls/PLC Engineer II Specter Aerospace is seeking a Controls/PLC Engineer II to manage and own a controls system for a state-of-the-art scramjet test facility. A successful candidate will have ...

Specter Aerospace

Controls/PLC Engineer II

Peabody, MA · On-site

$92K - $119K/yr

Salary: 115-125k DOE Controls/PLC Engineer II Specter Aerospace is seeking a Controls/PLC Engineer II to manage and own a controls system for a state-of-the-art scramjet test facility. A successful ...

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All JobsControls Engineer JobsControls Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA

Controls Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$59.8K

$104.9K

$142.3K

How much do controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for controls engineer in Boston, MA is $104,918.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,700.00 and $117,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a controls engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Controls Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, automation, and process control, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI software, and certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) or Siemens/Rockwell training are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this field. These skills ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of automated systems critical to industrial and manufacturing environments.

What does a controls engineer do?

A Controls Engineer designs, develops, and maintains systems that control machinery and processes in industries such as manufacturing, automotive, and energy. They work with automation systems, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, actuators, and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to ensure efficient, safe, and reliable operation. Controls Engineers also troubleshoot and optimize existing systems, implement upgrades, and ensure compliance with safety standards. Their expertise is crucial for improving productivity, reducing downtime, and integrating new technologies into production environments.

What is the difference between Controls Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectControls EngineerElectrical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering; certifications like Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferred
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, automation facilities, industrial settingsDesign offices, research labs, power plants, industrial sites
Industry UsageAutomation, manufacturing, process controlPower generation, electronics, telecommunications, industrial systems
Common Search/ComparisonControls Engineer vs Electrical Engineer

Controls Engineers focus on designing, developing, and maintaining control systems for automation and manufacturing processes, often working closely with machinery and PLCs. Electrical Engineers have a broader scope, working on electrical systems, power distribution, and electronic devices. While both roles require electrical knowledge and certifications, Controls Engineers specialize more in automation and control systems, whereas Electrical Engineers may work across various electrical disciplines.

What are common challenges faced by controls engineers when working on multidisciplinary project teams?

Controls Engineers frequently collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, which can present challenges in aligning design standards, timelines, and communication styles. They must ensure that control systems integrate seamlessly with hardware and software components while also meeting safety and regulatory requirements. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as Controls Engineers often act as a bridge between technical disciplines to troubleshoot issues and implement solutions efficiently.
More about Controls Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA? The most popular types of Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
What are popular job titles related to Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA? For Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Controls Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Controls Engineer jobs? Cities near Boston, MA with the most Controls Engineer job openings:
Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Controls Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 88% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,918 per year, or $50.4 per hour.

Controls Engineer II, Sustaining Engineering

Lila Sciences

Cambridge, MA • On-site

$93K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Your Impact at LILA
Lila is seeking a Controls Engineer on our Sustaining Engineering team to support the reliability and lifecycle performance of automated scientific equipment across our lab operations environment. This role works on deployed automation systems, including integrated robotics, PLCs, SCADA, instrumentation, and connected equipment.
You will troubleshoot multi-disciplinary issues, maintain and improve controls infrastructure, and support upgrades that keep laboratory workflows running reliably. The work spans incident response, preventive maintenance, root cause analysis, vendor software integration, documentation, and system lifecycle management.
This is an execution-focused engineering role for someone who enjoys hands-on problem solving in complex lab automation environments. Success means improving uptime, reducing recurring faults, and helping automation systems become safer, more reliable, and easier to maintain over time.
What You'll Be Building
  • Maintain and improve deployed PLC, SCADA, and robotics control systems.
  • Troubleshoot incidents across controls, robotics, instrumentation, networking, and integrated equipment.
  • Perform root cause analysis and implement fixes that reduce recurring faults.
  • Update wrappers connecting third-party equipment and vendor software to controls systems.
  • Sustain PLC-based safety systems for equipment, robotics, and conveyance workflows.
  • Plan preventive maintenance, patching, backups, upgrades, and component lifecycle work.
  • Keep P&IDs, wiring schematics, control narratives, and IO lists current.
  • Track uptime, MTBF, MTTR, and recurring faults to guide reliability improvements.

What You'll Need to Succeed
  • 2 to 5+ years supporting, maintaining, or troubleshooting automated control systems.
  • Hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and related automation platforms.
  • Experience with OT networking, including routing, security groups, VPNs, or similar systems.
  • Experience using Git or equivalent version control for engineering artifacts.
  • Ability to create and maintain engineering documents using AutoCAD, SolidWorks Electrical, or similar tools.
  • Experience with robotics integration, structured text, or related automation programming.
  • Strong troubleshooting skills across hardware, software, networking, and integrated equipment.

Bonus Points For
  • Ignition experience or Ignition Gold Certification.
  • Structured text, TwinCAT, Python, C++, or similar programming experience.
  • Experience with OPC-UA, MQTT, REST APIs, or related communication protocols.
  • Familiarity with safety classifications such as SIL or PL.
  • Experience with reliability methods such as FMEA, CAPA, RCM, or preventive maintenance strategy.

Compensation
We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.
U.S. Benefits. Full-time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company wide holidays; paid parental leave; an educational assistance program; commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees; and a company subsidized lunch program.
International Benefits. Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.
Expected Base Salary Range
$93,600-$138,600 USD
About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.
We're All In
Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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