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Senior Control Systems Engineer Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Senior Systems Engineer

Tucson, AZ ยท On-site

$115K - $160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Why This Role MattersWe are seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to play a key role in ... Establish document control processes for engineering and product documents such as design drawings ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Tucson, AZ

$89K - $122K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Why This Role Matters We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to play a key role in ... Establish document control processes for engineering and product documents such as design drawings ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Control Systems Engineer information

See Tucson, AZ salary details

$91K

$160.6K

How much do senior control systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior control systems engineer in Tucson, AZ is $154,344.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,100.00 and $160,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Control Systems Engineer vs Control Systems Engineer?

AspectSenior Control Systems EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, certifications like CSCP or ISABachelor's in Engineering, some certifications preferred
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, and troubleshooting of control systems in industrial settingsAssist in control system design and implementation, often under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, oil & gas, power plants, automation firmsSimilar industries, often entry to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Senior Control Systems Engineer and a Control Systems Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and expertise. Senior engineers typically lead projects, make complex decisions, and mentor junior staff, while control engineers focus on supporting design and implementation tasks. Both roles require relevant technical skills and industry experience, but seniority involves greater responsibility and leadership within control systems projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior control systems engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Control Systems Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical or control engineering, advanced knowledge of automation, and experience with process control systems, often supported by a relevant engineering degree and PE license. Expertise in PLC/DCS programming, SCADA systems, and familiarity with industry standards like ISA or IEC is essential. Strong analytical skills, leadership, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of complex industrial automation systems.

What are some common challenges faced by senior control systems engineers when working on large-scale automation projects?

Senior Control Systems Engineers often face challenges such as integrating new technologies with legacy systems, ensuring system reliability under varying operational conditions, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams. Managing project timelines while troubleshooting complex automation issues requires strong technical knowledge and effective communication. Additionally, adapting to evolving industry standards and regulations is essential to ensure system compliance and safety.

What does a senior control systems engineer do?

A Senior Control Systems Engineer designs, develops, and oversees the implementation of automated control systems in various industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation. They are responsible for improving system efficiency, reliability, and safety by creating control algorithms, selecting hardware, and integrating software solutions. Senior engineers often lead teams, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with other departments to ensure successful project delivery. Their expertise is crucial in troubleshooting complex system issues and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ?

The most popular types of Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ?

For Senior Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Control Systems Engineer jobs in Tucson, AZ are:

What cities near Tucson, AZ are hiring for Senior Control Systems Engineer jobs?

Cities near Tucson, AZ with the most Senior Control Systems Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Control Systems Engineer job openings in Tucson, AZ as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 87% In-person, and 13% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $154,344 per year, or $74.2 per hour.

Senior Electrical Engineer/Control Systems Engineer

Applied Energetics, Inc

Tucson, AZ โ€ข On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

About Applied Energetics

Applied Energetics is redefining the state of the art in ultrashort pulse laser and directed energy technologies for defense and national security applications. Guided by our vision, "Directed Energy, Anywhere", we build compact, high-performance systems that protect the warfighter and enable decisive advantages across the modern battlespace.

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Electrical Engineer, to play a key role in the design, development, testing, and integration of advanced beam directors and optical control systems with the lasers that power our next generation directed energy systems. In this role you will be part of our multidisciplinary engineering team executing our mission by pioneering scalable ultrashort pulse directed energy solutions that defend and secure our nation's future.

What You'll Do

  • Lead the design and development of custom electronics that enable precision operation, safety, and real-time responsiveness of our directed energy systems, including advanced fiber and solid-state lasers and beam directors and sub-systems.
  • Design and layout custom printed circuit boards and work with vendors to procure prototypes as well as production-ready parts.
  • Collaborate with software engineers to develop and implement the hardware to run embedded and real-time control algorithms for essential system functions such as laser stabilization, pulse timing, beam steering, motion control, and sensor feedback.
  • Test and debug electronic systems to ensure proper operation within the integrated laser and beam director platform.
  • Create and maintain appropriate documentation such as system hardware specifications, block diagrams, and schematics.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 5+ years' experience in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline.
  • Demonstrated ability designing, testing, and optimizing control electronics for complex integrated systems.
  • Experience with software tools used for simulation, circuit design, and layout such as Altium, PADS, OrCAD, LTspice, COMSOL, SIMULINK, etc.
  • Knowledge and experience of communication protocols and hardware interfaces such as SPI, UART, CAN, USB, ethernet, I2C, etc.
  • Strong hands-on experimental skills.
  • Innovative thinking with solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to translate and explain complex ideas to non-experts.
  • The ability to work cooperatively in a multidisciplinary team collaborating closely with mechanical, optical, software, and systems engineers to ensure the team's success.
  • Demonstrate AE's core values of Trust, Innovation, Quality, Agility, and Bold Leadership.
  • S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoW security clearance.

Preferred Qualification

  • Experience designing electronic controls for lasers and other optical devices and systems.
  • Experience with FPGA design and test.
  • Experience working in DoW or aerospace systems development environments.

Why Join Applied Energetics?

  • Work on breakthrough directed energy systems at the frontier of defense innovation.
  • Help shape next-generation beam directors and optical architectures for critical DoW missions.
  • Collaborate with a world-class team pushing the limits of laser science and engineering.
  • Competitive salary, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits.

How to Apply

Please apply on our company website Job Listings - Applied Energetics, Inc Jobs

Applied Energetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination.

We comply with all applicable federal and state employment laws prohibiting discrimination and will administer all personnel actions in a nondiscriminatory manner.