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Lead Instrumentation & Controls Engineer 1, Nuclear

Sargent & Lundy · Cedar Rapids, IA

Level
Manager
Team
Controls
Base pay
$118k–$180k
Industry
Industrial
Posted
19 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management controls role at Sargent & Lundy (industrial) in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Tools it names
PLC, Automation
Base pay
$118k–$180k
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 19, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $97k–$140k. This one lists $118k–$180k.

Median of the low and high ends of 273 live postings that list pay, out of 812 controls engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

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

How this role compares

Against 7 other live controls postings in Iowa.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ PLC 63%
  • Tooling 63%
  • ✓ Automation 50%
  • Robotics 25%
  • Team leadership 25%

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

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Sargent & Lundy

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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. 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. 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. 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 Sargent & LundyAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

This position will require onsite support at the Duane Arnold Energy Center supporting project needs. This will start out as a remote position but could change to a hybrid work arrangement where you'll spend three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.

Nuclear Power is a carbon-free energy source. Our nuclear power generation clients are digitizing their existing power plants due to the increasing demand for electric power. This is expanding our work in the Instrumentation and Controls Engineering group. Due to this influx of work, Sargent & Lundy has a need for additional I&C Engineers.

This I&C position offers the opportunity to work on upgrading and modernizing nuclear power plants with the latest control technologies the industry offers. You will be expected to both lead and support small and large controls projects with a focus on technical execution and effective Project Management. These projects will require coordination with mechanical, electrical, and structural disciplines to bring the project to completion.

You work will include investigating, troubleshooting, and resolving a wide variety of controls engineering issues, including the following:

  • ◆Develop Digital Systems Design -- PLC, DCS, HSI, networked computer systems.
  • ◆Prepare control system functional and implementation

requirements

and procurement specifications for nuclear plant control systems.

  • ✓Interface with the client to ensure proper project execution and client satisfaction.
  • ✓Prepare and review technical reports, calculations, and studies to present information in a clear and concise manner to meet client requirements.
  • ✓Manage resources/resource loading and develop estimates for task completion and budget development.
  • ✓Support the development of proposals.
  • ✓Prepare and review diagrams and drawings for new and upgraded controls solutions.
  • ✓Evaluate vendor bids from a technical perspective.
  • ✓Interface with vendors to perform document reviews, ensure equipment compliance with specifications and needs of the plant, and witness FAT performance on behalf of the client.
  • ✓Support implementation of the project at the client’s facilities.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience

  • ✓BS or MS in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, or Nuclear Engineering from an ABET accredited program.
  • ✓10 or more years of experience in the design engineering of instrumentation and controls systems in a project team environment for commercial, industrial applications, with a focus on integrated and detailed system design modifications.
  • ✓Professional Engineering license is preferred.
  • ✓Ability to clearly communicate both in speech and written formats.
  • ✓Technically knowledgeable of available equipment and proven pre-engineered systems to execute systems design.
  • ✓Experience with serving as the firm's client liaison in a support or lead engineering role.
  • ✓Experience in reviewing design documentation.

Technology & Innovation

Sargent & Lundy values the appropriate use of technology to improve how work gets done and deliver high-quality outcomes for our clients. Depending on the role, employees may use data, automation, artificial intelligence, and other digital tools to support research, analysis, engineering and design activities, workflow improvement, or other aspects of their work. We value candidates who demonstrate an interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to their role. Employees remain accountable for their work and are expected to apply appropriate professional judgment and review when using technology-assisted tools. Experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued where relevant but is not required unless specifically identified elsewhere in the job description.

About Sargent & Lundy

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Show full description ↓

Health & WellnessFinancial BenefitsWork-Life Balance

  • •Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
  • •Life & Accident Insurance
  • •Disability Coverage
  • •Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • •Back-Up Daycare
  • •FSA & HSA
  • •401(k)
  • •Pre-Tax Commuter Account
  • •Merit Scholarship Program
  • •Employee Discount Program
  • •Corporate Charitable Giving Program
  • •Tuition Assistance
  • •First Professional Licensure Bonus
  • •Employee Referral Bonus
  • •Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
  • •Paid Vacation
  • •Paid Holidays
  • •Paid Parental Leave
  • •Paid Bereavement Leave
  • •Flexible Work Arrangements

$118,023 - $180,313

Transparency Statement

About This Business Unit

Join Sargent & Lundy's Nuclear Power Group and be part of a team driving the future of clean, carbon-free energy. Since 1954, we’ve been a trusted leader in nuclear engineering, design, and licensing, with expertise spanning small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactor technology (ART), and first-of-a-kind commercial reactor restart projects. Our work supports life extensions and digital

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