Principal Controls Engineer

Location: Tulsa, OK
Job Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday–Friday

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Controls Engineer to provide technical leadership for the design and development of electrical control systems used in custom-engineered industrial equipment.

This is a senior-level individual contributor position responsible for advancing the organization's controls engineering capabilities, establishing design standards, reviewing complex control designs, and serving as a technical resource across engineering and operations.

The ideal candidate has extensive electrical controls experience, a strong understanding of applicable electrical codes and standards, and the ability to provide technical direction while remaining hands-on with engineering and design.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for electrical control system design and development.

• Review customer specifications and project requirements to develop appropriate control system strategies.

• Identify technical risks, design gaps, and capability requirements during the proposal and engineering phases.

• Review and approve electrical control designs prior to release.

• Interpret customer and vendor control drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.

• Provide technical guidance to engineering, estimating, applications, quality, project management, and other internal teams.

• Ensure control system designs comply with applicable electrical codes, standards, and customer requirements.

• Serve as a subject matter expert for complex controls engineering questions.

• Develop and maintain engineering design standards and best practices.

• Create standardized design tools, templates, and review processes.

• Identify opportunities to improve engineering quality, efficiency, and consistency.

• Lead technical quality initiatives related to electrical control systems.

• Investigate design or quality issues and determine appropriate corrective actions.

• Establish and monitor engineering performance metrics and key performance indicators.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives across engineering and manufacturing.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and designers as needed.

• Evaluate new technologies and engineering methods that could improve control system performance, reliability, or manufacturability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• Significant experience designing industrial electrical control systems.

• Strong understanding of electrical schematics, control drawings, and engineering documentation.

• Ability to independently review and approve complex electrical control designs.

• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts across engineering and non-engineering teams.

Preferred Experience

• Protection and control systems.

• Medium-voltage electrical systems.

• Industrial power distribution.

• Design engineering within a manufacturing or custom-equipment environment.

• Industrial automation and control panels.

• Electrical equipment integration.

• Engineering quality systems and corrective action processes.

• Development of engineering standards and design-review processes.

• Technical leadership or mentorship of engineers and designers.

Codes & Standards

Working knowledge of applicable electrical codes and standards, including:

• National Electrical Code (NEC / NFPA 70)

• NFPA 79

• UL 508A

• Other applicable industrial electrical and safety standards

Certification Requirements

• UL 508A Manufacturer Technical Representative (MTR) certification required or must be obtained within 12 months of employment.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior electrical controls engineer who can operate as both a hands-on technical expert and an engineering leader.

This person should be comfortable reviewing complex control designs, interpreting customer requirements, solving difficult technical problems, establishing engineering standards, and improving the overall capabilities of a controls engineering organization.

Experience with industrial controls, power distribution, protection and control, medium-voltage equipment, or custom-engineered electrical systems would be particularly valuable.

Employment Details

Job Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday–Friday
Location: Tulsa, OK

Nesco Resource offers a comprehensive benefits package for our associates, which includes a MEC (Minimum Essential Coverage) plan that encompasses Medical, Vision, Dental, 401K, and EAP (Employee Assistance Program) services.

Nesco Resource provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.