Sr. Controls Engineer

PwrQ Holdings LLC · Champlin, MN

Level: Senior
Team: Controls
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: 5 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior controls role at PwrQ Holdings LLC (industrial) in Champlin, MN. Design, develop, and support programming for control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and related devices, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget in a fast-paced engineering environment.

They ask for: 5+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: PLC, Automation
Day to day: some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $99k–$135k.

Median of the low and high ends of 15 live postings that list pay, out of 22 controls engineer openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

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

How this role compares

Against 21 other live controls postings in Minnesota.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Less than usual (5+ vs 6+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ PLC 77%
✓ Automation 68%
Robotics 36%
MES 27%
Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 23%

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

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

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 PwrQ Holdings LLC
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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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 PwrQ Holdings LLCAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

We are seeking a Controls Engineer to oversees and leads the development of PLC and HMI programs for safe, effective, and efficient operation of Forgent products and processes while meeting and exceeding company quality and production standards and customer documentation and delivery requirements.

Responsibilities

◆Design, develop, and support programming for control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and related devices, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget in a fast-paced engineering environment.
◆Review and interpret customer

requirements

and project specifications, providing clear guidance to engineering and design teams.

✓Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve design, quality, and manufacturing issues, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
✓Develop training materials, documentation, procedures, and work instructions to support the growth and capability of engineering and technical teams.
✓Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and emerging products to support ongoing product development efforts.
✓Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, suppliers, vendors, and external partners.
✓Provide field support for technical and commercial needs, with occasional local and limited domestic travel as required.
✓Follow all company safety policies, quality standards, and housekeeping procedures.

Required Skills and Abilities

✓Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or related technical discipline (or equivalent technical training and experience)
✓5+ years of engineering experience with a focus on control systems, automation, or related technologies
✓Working knowledge of common industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet-based protocols, etc.)
✓Ability to coordinate and manage technical aspects of customer projects
✓Experience preparing technical proposals or supporting product/project cost estimates
✓Strong relationship-building skills with customers, suppliers, and internal teams
✓Proficiency with standard business software (Microsoft Office Suite)
✓Hands-on experience with PLC and HMI programming platforms
✓Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

✓Experience with SCADA systems or system integration tools
✓Familiarity with utility, power, or industrial software tools or configuration platforms
✓Experience with protective relays, automation devices, or related configuration software
✓Broad understanding of electrical, mechanical, and software design principles
✓Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
✓Experience in industries such as renewable energy, energy storage, data centers, or emerging power technologies is a plus

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Description