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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal controls engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Principal Controls Engineers face when managing complex automation projects?

Principal Controls Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new automation technologies with legacy systems, ensuring that all safety and compliance standards are met, and coordinating across multidisciplinary teams. They must also address unexpected troubleshooting issues quickly to minimize downtime, and effectively communicate technical requirements to both engineering and non-technical stakeholders. Successfully managing these challenges requires strong leadership, adaptability, and a deep understanding of both hardware and software controls systems.

What is a Principal Controls Engineer?

A Principal Controls Engineer is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing control systems used to operate machinery and processes in various industries. They lead projects, mentor junior engineers, and ensure that control systems meet safety, reliability, and efficiency standards. Principal Controls Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate new technologies, troubleshoot complex automation issues, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Their work is critical in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and automotive, where precise control and automation are essential.

Can you make $500,000 as an electrical engineer?

Principal Controls Engineers, a specialized role within electrical engineering, can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in automation and control systems, and working in high-paying industries like aerospace or energy. Achieving this level often requires seniority, leadership responsibilities, and sometimes additional certifications or advanced degrees.

What engineers make $500,000?

Principal Controls Engineers in industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, or high-tech manufacturing can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills in automation and control systems, and often with bonuses or profit sharing. High-level engineering roles in these fields typically require advanced certifications and leadership responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Controls Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Controls Engineer, you need advanced expertise in control system design, automation engineering, and a relevant engineering degree, often with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA systems, HMI software, and industry standards like IEC 61131 is typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and clear communication are critical soft skills for managing projects and mentoring teams. These competencies ensure the successful delivery of complex automation solutions, operational efficiency, and technical leadership within engineering organizations.

What does a principal controls engineer do?

A principal controls engineer designs, develops, and oversees control systems for industrial processes or machinery. They analyze system requirements, create control strategies, and often work with automation tools like PLCs and SCADA systems. This role typically requires strong technical skills, experience in control theory, and relevant certifications or degrees in engineering.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Controls Engineers and other senior engineering roles in specialized fields such as software, aerospace, or petroleum engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities. High salaries are often associated with industries requiring complex technical skills, project management, and sometimes geographic or company-specific factors.

What is the difference between Principal Controls Engineer vs Controls Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Controls EngineerControls Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's degree in Engineering or related field; PE license optional
Work EnvironmentLead projects, oversee design and implementation, coordinate teamsDesign, develop, and troubleshoot control systems under supervision
Industry UsageUsed in large-scale manufacturing, automation, and industrial facilitiesCommon in manufacturing, automation, and process industries

The Principal Controls Engineer typically holds more experience, leads projects, and oversees teams, while Controls Engineers focus on designing and implementing control systems. Both roles require similar technical credentials and are integral to automation projects, but the Principal role involves higher-level responsibilities and leadership.

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Principal Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Controls Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Lead Electrical Controls Engineer - Motion Control & Servo Systems

Lead Electrical Controls Engineer - Motion Control & Servo Systems

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc

Thousand Oaks, CA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced motion control and automation solutions.

  • Develop and validate control algorithms for precision positioning, velocity, and torque control applications.

  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members.

Job description

Lead Controls Engineer – Motion Control & Automation

Location: Southern California

Position Summary

We are seeking a Lead Controls Engineer to provide technical leadership for the development of advanced motion control and automation systems. This individual will lead complex engineering projects, mentor junior engineers, collaborate with product management and executive leadership, and play a key role in defining future control technologies and automation solutions.

This position is ideal for an experienced controls professional with a strong background in servo systems, motor control, industrial automation, robotics, and embedded control architectures.

Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced motion control and automation solutions.
  • Serve as the technical authority for motion control applications, closed-loop control systems, and industrial automation technologies.
  • Develop and validate control algorithms for precision positioning, velocity, and torque control applications.
  • Lead system architecture efforts involving servo drives, motors, encoders, sensors, PLCs, and industrial communication networks.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product requirements, technology roadmaps, and development strategies.
  • Support complex customer applications and provide high-level technical troubleshooting.
  • Lead product verification, validation, and root-cause analysis activities.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
  • Participate in technical reviews, customer meetings, and strategic engineering discussions.
  • Support new product development from concept through production release.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related discipline.
  • 8+ years of experience in controls engineering, motion control, robotics, industrial automation, or related fields.
  • Strong knowledge of servo drives, motor control systems, feedback devices, and closed-loop control architectures.
  • Experience with industrial communication protocols such as EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, CANopen, Profibus, or similar.
  • Experience with PLC programming and industrial automation systems.
  • Proven experience leading technical projects and mentoring engineers.
  • Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent communication and customer-facing skills.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience supporting robotics, autonomous systems, warehouse automation, semiconductor equipment, manufacturing automation, or other advanced motion control applications.
  • Knowledge of control theory, PID tuning, motion profiling, and advanced motor control techniques.
  • Experience with C/C++, Python, MATLAB, or embedded systems development.
  • Familiarity with industrial safety standards and regulatory compliance requirements.
  • Previous experience in a technical leadership, lead engineer, or principal engineer role.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Competitive base salary
  • Performance bonus potential
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid vacation and holidays
  • Career advancement opportunities
  • Collaborative engineering environment working on cutting-edge automation technologies

Keywords: Lead Controls Engineer, Senior Controls Engineer, Motion Control Engineer, Servo Systems Engineer, Automation Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer, Industrial Controls Engineer, Principal Controls Engineer, Technical Lead.

To apply, send your resume to


Patrick DelGaone

#Controls

#Midsenior

#Engineering

Company Description

Libertyjobs.com has become an essential destination site for experienced job seekers. Our recruiters are continually posting active job openings to the website. Feel free to search our database of open positions and apply for your next career move!
Hundreds of new jobs are listed on the site every month in a wide range of industries and locations. Last year we had over 900,000 unique job seekers visit our website, which means over 75,000 skilled job seekers search our openings every month.
Established in 2003, Liberty Personnel quickly grew into one of the largest technical recruiting agencies on the East Coast. Today, Liberty Personnel has a national presence and a diverse client base. Listed below are a number of the industries and openings we work on:
Information Technology, Software Programmers, Engineering, Manufacturing, Legal, Plant Maintenance, Construction, Oil and Gas, Medical Communications, Accounting, Finance, Electronics, Scientific, Medical Device, Sales, Pharmaceutical, Admin, Automation, Controls, Civil, HVAC, Wastewater, Structural, Electrical, Chemists, Validations, Logistics, Food Production, Renewable Energy and Machinists.