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Junior Controls Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, code reviews, troubleshooting, and technical guidance. * Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, controls, and applications engineers to ...

Mechanical Engineer

Shakopee, MN · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with controls, software, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and supplier ... Provide informal technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers and technicians.

Mechanical Engineer

Shakopee, MN · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with controls, software, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and supplier ... Provide informal technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers and technicians.

Sr Power and Controls Technician - US Remote

Hamel, MN · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Mentor and train junior technicians in troubleshooting and repair procedures. * Support the ... Provide field feedback to engineering and leadership for product improvements. * Contribute to ...

Principal Electrical Engineer

Minneapolis, MN

$145K - $177K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... design controls within highly regulated medical device environments. Key Responsibilities ... Mentor and provide technical guidance to senior and junior electrical engineers, firmware engineers ...

Senior R&D Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN

$125K - $160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

May provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and interns on assigned ... Experience in a regulated industry, medical device preferred, including design controls and ...

Senior R&D Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

May provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and interns on assigned ... Experience in a regulated industry, medical device preferred, including design controls and ...

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Electrical Engineer (Remote)

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Mentor junior staff and progressively assume greater project leadership responsibilities ... Knowledge of programmable logic controllers (PLCs), instrumentation, and controls * Experience ...

Senior R&D Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

  • Medical

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

May provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and interns on assigned ... Experience in a regulated industry, medical device preferred, including design controls and ...

Showing results 41-60

Junior Controls Engineer information

See Minnesota salary details

$32.8K

$70.3K

$107.2K

How much do junior controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior controls engineer in Minnesota is $70,321.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,500.00 and $78,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Junior Controls Engineer, you generally need a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or control engineering and a solid grasp of automation principles. Familiarity with PLC programming, SCADA systems, and CAD software, along with relevant certifications like Siemens or Rockwell, is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and troubleshoot issues efficiently. These competencies are crucial for designing reliable control systems and ensuring smooth operation in industrial environments.

What are some common challenges faced by junior controls engineers when transitioning from academic projects to real-world industrial environments?

Junior Controls Engineers often find that real-world industrial environments present challenges not commonly encountered in academic settings, such as working with legacy systems, managing tight project deadlines, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams. Learning to troubleshoot hardware and software issues in live production environments can be daunting, especially when unexpected problems arise. Additionally, adapting to rigorous safety standards and documentation requirements is crucial. However, support from senior engineers and ongoing training typically help new hires navigate these challenges successfully.

What is a junior controls engineer?

Junior Controls Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, and maintaining control systems used to operate machinery and processes in industries such as manufacturing, energy, and automation. They typically work under the supervision of senior engineers to program PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), troubleshoot system issues, and ensure that automated systems are functioning correctly. Their role often involves hands-on work with electrical components and software, as well as collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to improve efficiency and safety.

What is the difference between Junior Controls Engineer vs Controls Technician?

AspectJunior Controls EngineerControls Technician
Required CredentialsAssociate's or Bachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls EngineeringTechnical diploma or associate's degree in electrical or controls technology
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, and troubleshooting of control systems, often in office and lab settingsInstallation, maintenance, and repair of control systems on-site in industrial environments
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, automation, and engineering firmsIndustrial plants, factories, and automation service providers

While both roles involve working with control systems, Junior Controls Engineers focus on design and development, whereas Controls Technicians primarily handle installation and maintenance. The roles often overlap in industry and credentials but differ in daily responsibilities and work settings.

What are the most commonly searched types of Controls Engineer jobs in Minnesota? The most popular types of Controls Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Junior Controls Engineer jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Junior Controls Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Junior Controls Engineer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,321 per year, or $33.8 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

IPG Photonics

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


IPG Photonics rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

129th of 487 rated machine equipment manufacturers


Job description

IPG’s Material Processing Systems Group is focused on integrating state-of-the-art IPG lasers into turn-key systems to be used in the semiconductor, medical and other industries. We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Material Processing Systems Group in the development of advanced laser-based manufacturing systems. This position serves as a senior technical contributor responsible for designing, implementing, testing, and supporting software solutions for IPG's laser processing equipment.

The successful candidate will leverage extensive experience in industrial automation, machine control, and software engineering to develop new machine capabilities, improve existing platforms, and support customer-driven enhancements. While working within established software architectures, this individual will collaborate with other engineers, share technical knowledge, participate in code reviews, and mentor junior engineers as opportunities arise.

In addition to software development responsibilities, the Senior Software Engineer will work closely with manufacturing, applications, service, and project teams to support machine builds, system integration, commissioning activities, and project execution on the production floor. This role requires strong system-level problem-solving skills and the ability to coordinate efforts across software, electrical, mechanical, and applications engineering disciplines.

  • Analyze machine requirements, customer requests, and engineering specifications to develop software solutions for laser-based material processing systems.
  • Design, implement, test, and maintain software features within established machine control architectures.
  • Serve as a senior software engineer within assigned projects, providing technical input and collaborating with team members to deliver high-quality software.
  • Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, code reviews, troubleshooting, and technical guidance.
  • Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, controls, and applications engineers to deliver integrated machine solutions.
  • Support machine integration, testing, validation, and commissioning activities during machine builds.
  • Support assigned projects through software implementation, testing, integration, and troubleshooting.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues involving software, motion control, machine vision, communications, and hardware integration.
  • Drive software quality through adherence to coding standards, testing practices, and maintainability guidelines.
  • Contribute to improvements in existing machine architectures, software frameworks, and development processes.
  • Support field service teams and customers in resolving advanced software and machine performance issues.
  • Participate in customer visits and occasional domestic or international travel to support installations and project execution.

Qualifications:
  • 10+ years professional software engineering experience.
  • Demonstrated experience contributing to technically complex software projects.
  • BSCE, BSCS, BSEE, or equivalent. MS, a plus.
  • Demonstrated history of solving complex technical challenges in industrial automation, CNC, robotics, or manufacturing systems.
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft C#/.NET development.
  • Experience developing software for industrial automation, CNC, robotics, precision automation equipment, or other complex hardware-integrated systems.
  • Strong understanding of multithreaded and distributed systems.
  • Experience with integrating one or more of the following:  motion control systems, machine vision systems, and industrial hardware.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
  • Experience with Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) tools such as Microsoft Azure DevOps and Git.
  • Strong understanding of object-oriented design principles and software development best practices.
  • Ability to troubleshoot complex system-level issues involving software, electrical, and mechanical components.
  • Strong professional organization and task priority skills.

Experience Desired (not required):
  • Experience with advanced software testing technologies in .NET.
  • Experience using a PC to interface with external sensors and control peripheral devices via vendor SDK, serial or TCP/IP communications.
  • Experience with web services and APIs including ASP.NET, JSON, and RESTful interfaces.
  • Experience developing automated manufacturing equipment, particularly factory-connected systems and Industry 4.0 solutions.
  • Experience with databases (Microsoft SQL Server).
  • Motion control systems (Aerotech A3200, Aerotech Automation 1, ACS).
  • Machine vision (Dalsa/Sapera/Sherlock, Cognex, Matrox).

Pay Range:
The pay range on this posting applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location posted, the applicable range could differ. Actual starting pay is determined by a number of factors including relevant skills, qualifications, and experience.

Other Compensation: Employees in this role are eligible for additional rewards which could include:
  • Annual Discretionary Bonus or Sales Bonus as Applicable.

Benefits Provided: All Regular* US employees receive:
  • Paid vacation time accrued based on years of service.
  • Paid sick time.
  • 12 (twelve) Paid Holidays Each Calendar Year.
*Prorated for reduced hour schedules.

Additional Benefits Offered: IPG also offers access to:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans with options for HSA/FSA.
  • Dependent Care FSA.
  • Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance.
  • Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with Company matching.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Adoption Assistance.
  • Pet Insurance.
  • Parental Bonding Leave.
  • Bright Horizons Backup Care.
  • Bright Horizons College Coach.
*Benefits eligibility may differ by program for reduced hour schedules.
Deadline and How to Apply:
This job posting will remain active until a candidate is identified and/or the Company rescinds the job posting.

For full consideration, please click on the link to apply.
https://recruiting.adp.com/srccsh/public/RTI.home?r=5001199569506&c=2179707&d=ExternalCareerSite&_dissimuloSSO=stKXcraxHyk:0clRy31WyEDoT77_JJnl-fGPuYcVb0gA23yzgd8ORbs

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