Controls Engineer I
CLX Engineering · Sanford, FL
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $75k–$160k
- Travel
- 30%
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at CLX Engineering (industrial) in Sanford, FL. At Levels I and II, engineers support and progressively grow into greater ownership, complexity, and leadership responsibilities.
- They ask for
- 5+ years
- Tools it names
- PLC, Automation, AutoCAD
- Base pay
- $75k–$160k
- Day to day
- about 30% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $98k–$141k. This one lists $75k–$160k.
Median of the low and high ends of 336 live postings that list pay, out of 948 controls engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Florida plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 15 other live controls postings in Florida.
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 69%
- ✓ Automation 69%
- New product launch 44%
- Tooling 31%
- ✓ Team leadership 31%
- Python 31%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at CLX Engineering
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from CLX EngineeringAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the Role
Automation Engineer (Level I–III) is a scalable engineering role designed to support a range of experience levels across our automation team. This position may report out of either Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport) or our Sanford, FL Headquarters, depending on project assignment and operational needs.
This role is leveled I–III. Placement will be determined throughout the interview process based on résumé review, technical discussion, and skill assessment. Candidates may be aligned at Level I, II, or III depending on demonstrated experience, leadership capability, and technical depth.
At Levels I and II, engineers support and progressively grow into greater ownership, complexity, and leadership responsibilities.
CLX Engineering also offers annual performance-based bonus opportunities for Engineers at all levels (I–III), recognizing contributions to project success, technical excellence, and company growth. Typical Experience Range:
- ◆Level I: Early-career automation/controls experience
- ◆Level II: 3–5+ years in automation, controls, or systems integration
- ◆Level III: 8+ years with demonstrated technical leadership
This is a performance-driven role built on trust, experience, and accountability. What You’ll Do (Level of responsibility scales based on placement.):
- ◆Support or lead technical aspects of automation projects from design through commissioning
- ◆Design and develop control systems across electrical, mechanical, and IT disciplines
- ◆Develop, review, and/or approve PLC/HMI code, drawings, and documentation
- ◆Serve as a technical point of contact for customers and project managers (Level II–III)
- ◆Coordinate workloads, priorities, and schedules with engineering and field teams
- ◆Participate in or lead design reviews and troubleshooting efforts
- ◆Mentor junior engineers (Level III)
- ◆Drive structured troubleshooting and implement permanent solutions
Required & Preferred Experience
- ✓Willingness to travel with short notice up to 30%-50%
- ✓Experience in live, high-pressure industrial environments
- ✓Strong electrical schematic and controls understanding
- ✓Ability to follow TSA testing
requirements
and execute test plans
- ✓Proficiency in IEC PLC languages
- ✓HMI experience (FactoryTalk View preferred; Ignition or Wonderware acceptable)
- ✓Working AutoCAD knowledge
- ✓Strong written and verbal documentation skills
- ✓Ability to supervise and coordinate with clients, vendors, and trades (Level II–III)
- ✓4+ years PLC programming experience preferred for Level III (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Beckhoff, etc.)
- ✓Ability to pass TSA SIDA and background checks
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Description
What We’re Looking For
- •Experience with PLC and HMI platforms (depth expected to scale by level)
- •System integration knowledge including SCADA, industrial networks, and data flow
- •Ability to operate in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
- •Strong troubleshooting and analytical capability
- •Professional communication skills; customer-facing confidence (Level II–III)
- •Technical ownership mindset and sound judgment
Impact of This Role At every level: Automation Engineers are critical to keeping airport operations running safely and efficiently. As responsibility scales, so does impact. By Level III, you are not just solving problems — you are preventing them, shaping standards, and developing the next generation of engineers. This role is built for engineers who want to grow — not just execute.