Senior Controls Engineer

HoSt Bio-energy Systems · Vancouver, WA

Level: Senior
Team: Controls
Base pay: $120k–$140k
Travel: 30%
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 7+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: Recently

The role in 30 seconds

A senior controls role at HoSt Bio-energy Systems (industrial) in Vancouver, WA. In-depth knowledge of PLC and HMI programming (Siemens preferred), SCADA system design and configuration, industrial networking architecture and protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profinet, or similar), and machine safety standards and safety system programming.

They ask for: 7+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Root cause, PLC, Automation
Base pay: $120k–$140k
Day to day: about 30% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in Washington: typical posted base $104k–$140k. This one lists $120k–$140k.

Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 11 controls engineer openings in Washington, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Washington plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 10 other live controls postings in Washington.

Base pay: About 10% above similar roles
Experience asked: More than usual (7+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ PLC 91%
✓ Automation 91%
Robotics 45%
EHS / safety 36%
Team leadership 36%
Injection molding 27%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Root cause, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 7+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 HoSt Bio-energy Systems
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 HoSt Bio-energy SystemsAs posted on their careers site.Show

Required

✓Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Controls/Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent project-focused work experience.
✓7+ years of experience in controls, automation, or systems integration, with a strong foundation in designing, programming, and implementing industrial control systems, and demonstrated ownership of projects from concept through commissioning.
✓In-depth knowledge of PLC and HMI programming (Siemens preferred), SCADA system design and configuration, industrial networking architecture and protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profinet, or similar), and machine safety standards and safety system programming.
✓Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with confidence working directly with customers to explain technical concepts and build lasting relationships.
✓Valid passport, with ability to travel internationally on occasion.
✓Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license in the state of residence; position is subject to annual DMV record screening in accordance with insurance and client

requirements

✓Ability to pass a background check

Show full description ↓

HoSt Bio-Energy Systems is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Controls Engineer to support our mission of delivering cutting-edge sustainable energy solutions. Join us in driving a cleaner, greener future while ensuring exceptional service operations for our clients.

Key Details

•Salary: $120,000 – $140,000
•Location: Our office is located in downtown Vancouver, WA, with flexibility to work in-office, hybrid, or remotely depending on location and business needs.
•Travel: Up to 30% per year to project sites across the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe, along with regular morning overlap with our team in the Netherlands.
•Benefits: Employer-paid Medical, Vision and Dental; 401k Program with 4% Match; Unlimited Paid Vacation & Sick Leave; Flexible Spending Accounts; Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance; Life and AD&D Insurance; Employee Assistance Program

Why HoSt?:

•Join a company where sustainability is not just a goal, but a fundamental guiding principle embedded in our mission and operations.
•Play a role in closing the loop on waste, minimizing emissions, and transforming waste products into valuable resources, which is good for business and the planet.
•Enjoy ample personal and professional development opportunities in a dynamic and expanding global market.
•Work with experienced professionals dedicated to making a difference in sustainable energy.

Who We Are: At HoSt Bio-Energy Systems, our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are a global leader in providing cutting-edge, environmentally friendly energy solutions that empower businesses and communities to embrace a cleaner, greener future. Our mission is to drive the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy by harnessing the power of renewable resources. We specialize in developing, designing, and constructing state-of-the-art Bio-Energy systems that convert organic waste and biomass into valuable resources, including biogas, green heat, and sustainable electricity.

Want to learn more? Check out our website: https://www.Host-BioEnergy.com/our-sustainability-mission/

Who You Are: You're an experienced controls engineer who moves fluidly between deep technical work and people leadership — equally comfortable debugging a PLC program and walking a client through automation strategy. You bring structure to complex, multi-system projects: managing scope, risk, and schedule without losing sight of the programming details underneath them. You communicate clearly and confidently with clients, vendors, and internal teams, and you don't wait to be asked before improving a standard or mentoring a colleague. Grounded in a strong understanding of industrial control systems and project execution, you bring sound judgment and follow-through to everything you own.

Preferred

+10+ years of controls/automation experience, including significant experience within biogas/RNG or another process industry.
+Experience mentoring early-career engineers.
+Experience with advanced process troubleshooting/root-cause analysis, SCADA historian and reporting tool design, and control panel design review.
+Familiarity with anaerobic digestion, biogas conditioning/upgrading, and gas handling systems, and proficiency with tools such as NetSuite, ClickUp, and Microsoft Project.
+Professional Engineering License (PE) or relevant industry certification.

What You’ll Do: As Senior Controls Engineer, you'll take a leading technical role in the design, programming, and delivery of control and automation systems for HoSt/Bright's biogas and RNG projects, from concept through startup and commissioning. This role combines deep hands-on programming expertise with project-level ownership: you'll guide controls scope across multiple projects, mentor other engineers, and serve as the key technical point of contact for customers and vendors on automation matters, while helping shape the standards the whole controls team builds on.

include, but are not limited to

•Lead controls design and programming: Lead the design, programming, and testing of PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems for biogas/RNG projects, including control logic, alarming strategy, operator interfaces, and industrial networking architecture, along with data historian and reporting systems.
•Lead functional design documentation: Lead development of functional descriptions, control narratives, and cause-and-effect matrices with process engineering, and oversee I/O, alarm, and interlock lists across assigned projects.
•Own technical execution: Take technical ownership of the controls scope from concept through commissioning, serve as the escalation point for complex programming and integration issues, and lead collaboration with our 3rd-party controls architect on