Senior Automation and Controls Engineer BMS/EMS at TAI Raleigh, NC
TAI · Raleigh, NC
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $135k–$185k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 12 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at TAI (industrial) in Raleigh, NC. You will serve as a technical leader responsible for developing and reviewing control system designs, driving engineering excellence, and ensuring automation solutions align with project objectives, regulatory expectations, and operational requirements.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- FDA / GMP, PLC, Automation
- Base pay
- $135k–$185k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $108k–$154k. This one lists $135k–$185k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 35 controls engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 34 other live controls postings in North Carolina.
- Base pay
- About 22% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $108k–$154k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 83%
- ✓ PLC 69%
- Robotics 40%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 34%
- AutoCAD 23%
- MES 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 TAI
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?
- 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 TAIAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Requirements
Specification for all systems specifying performance
requirements
& applicable Standards [GE.SP.CEE.204 made Project specific] Ensure all relevant Specifications are delivered to the Design Contractor Define & agree with Design Contractor necessary design deliverables for all design stages (CD, BD, DD)- Design Deliverables List made Project Specific including the level of review appropriate to these documents Review Contractor response to the Project Technical
Requirements
to ensure
requirements
are correctly included Prepare Project specific Technical
Requirements
for Package Equipment [GE.SP.CEE.207 or 209 made project specific] Attend Project meetings on an as required basis Participate in and make recommendations for the procurement strategy for technical work packages including pre-qualification/contractor selection and technical content/scope of contracts. Produce regular Design Assurance Reports according to the plan set up by the PTM, to ensure ongoing technical alignment. Identify value engineering opportunities Ensure key SHE and GMP compliance
requirements
are reflected in the design deliverables Attend and contribute to SHE risk assessment activities to ensure alignment with SHE
requirements
and ensure appropriate mitigations are included in the design Provide technical guidance to Work Package Owner teams within their areas of responsibility. Ensure specific technical solutions are consistent with Customer, cost and schedule requirements. Provide input to Project Planning Review/ involvement with mechanical packages Review BMS description of operation from Electrical view point (Applicable if BMS written by others) Review EMS URS from Electrical view point (Applicable if EMS written by others) Support development of redundancy strategy and maintenance philosophy Review & input to Sustainability Checklist Respond to Construction queries where the Design Contractor is unable to provide answers. You’ll be a perfect fit if you have: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering. Master’s Degree is a plus. Professional Engineer licensure is preferred. Minimum of eight (8) years of control system design experience helping to create construction documents for a wide range of projects. Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting projects within the Pharma/Biotech/Life Science industry. Experience in specifying, designing, programming and maintaining distributed control systems, within Life Sciences industry. Other applicable industry experience, such as industrial, power, oil & gas, manufacturing, food & beverage facilities will also be considered. Working knowledge of and ability to specify both digital and analog instrumentation (Level, Flow, Pressure, Temperature, Analytical - pH, LEL, O2, CO, CO2, etc.) and integrate construction and panel drawing sets. Working knowledge of and ability to specify Electrical Component and Field Devices (combination starters, VFD’s, MCC’s, pushbuttons/selector switches, heat trace, etc.) Experience designing, reviewing and approving Electrical Construction Drawing sets including but not limited to instrument location plan, conduit block and network architecture drawings Experience designing, reviewing and approving PLC control panel and motor control panel drawings Experience with specification and programming of controls systems including Rockwell family of processors and HMI’s, ability to program new applications and modify existing applications with ample annotation for future reference Working knowledge of TCP/IP, Modbus, Profibus and other industrial communication protocols Experience programming PlantPax, Wonderware, IFix, Maple, Delta V, Siemens, Omron, Modicon, Mitsubishi and Koyo is a plus Experience programming SCADA and SQL is a plus Familiarity with the installation, configuration, and testing of Data Historians (e.g. AVEVA (OSIsoft) PI System) is a plus Working knowledge of and ability to specify control systems for use in hazardous area locations as identified by NFPA 70 Working knowledge of ISA standards and ability to interpret and contribute to development of P&ID Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guidelines and Regulations as well as ISPE and GAMP 5 standards is preferred Experience with the acceptance testing and qualification of Computerized System is preferred Working knowledge of and ability to design robust safety circuits and specify components of varying industry
requirements
Working knowledge of NFPA 79Interact with customers and contractors
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About the Role: Join a leading automation and controls engineering team supporting complex pharmaceutical and life sciences projects from concept through commissioning. As a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer/SME, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for developing and reviewing control system designs, driving engineering excellence, and ensuring automation solutions align with project objectives, regulatory expectations, and operational requirements. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders, guide technical strategy, and contribute to the successful delivery of critical facility and process automation systems. About TAI: TAI brings together engineering, construction, systems integration, on-site services, and technical services — combining proven execution with trusted expertise to support clients across the entire project lifecycle. Team members at TAI are capable, well-rounded, flexible, and optimistic. We have found that the best employees are the ones who recognize the importance of what they do and the ones who let that guide them in the actions they take. More than any skill, we seek people who make decisions that support the common good. We work for our clients, and we work for one another. Here’s a glimpse into your day to day: Engage with key stakeholders to ensure that their needs are understood and reflected in the CD design Prepare Project Technical
