Controls Engineer
Quanex · St Cloud, MN
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $115k–$125k
- Travel
- 15%
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Quanex (industrial) in St Cloud, MN. Design, program, configure, test, and maintain PLC-based control systems and related automation equipment.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC, Robotics, Automation, CATIA / NX, EHS / safety
- Base pay
- $115k–$125k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 15% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $101k–$141k. This one lists $115k–$125k.
Median of the low and high ends of 20 live postings that list pay, out of 28 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 27 other live controls postings in Minnesota.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $100k–$141k, from 18 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 6+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 68%
- ✓ Automation 64%
- ✓ Robotics 39%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 25%
- MES 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CATIA / NX, 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 Quanex
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?
- The posting says about 15% 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.
This plant: Quanex in St Cloud
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Technician - 1st Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - Day Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - 2nd Shift · Reliability · Technician
Full description from QuanexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Quanex is looking for a Controls Engineer to join our team located in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
The Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, troubleshooting, and continuously improving industrial control systems and automated manufacturing equipment. This position provides technical leadership for PLCs, HMIs, robotics, motion-control systems, industrial networks, and related electrical and automation technologies.
The Controls Engineer partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, IT, EHS, and equipment suppliers to improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, product quality, and workplace safety. The successful candidate combines strong technical expertise with a hands-on approach to diagnosing equipment issues and implementing sustainable solutions
Salary: $115,000 - $125,000 annually, starting salary varies based on your experience
Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am -5:00pm, hours may vary based on business needs
We Offer You!
- •Medical, dental & vision start the 1st of the month after hire
- •Medical coverage featuring wellness incentives that may significantly reduce employee premiums
- •PTO, ESST, paid holidays & paid training — starts right away
- •401(k) with company match & vesting
- •Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- •Life insurance provided
- •Tuition assistance
- •Wellness resources & onsite physical therapist
- •Referral bonuses
What’s attractive about the Controls Engineer role?
- •Collaborative and Team-Oriented environment
- •World Class Safety records
- •Clean and well-lit work environment.
- •On-site, hands-on physical therapy
What Success Looks Like
- •Design, program, configure, test, and maintain PLC-based control systems and related automation equipment.
- •Develop and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, servo, and motion-control programs.
- •Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, improve cycle time, increase throughput, and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
- •Provide hands-on technical and installation support to Maintenance and Operations during equipment failures and production disruptions, and new equipment installs.
- •Serve as an escalation resource for difficult or recurring controls and electrical problems.
- •Design, modify, and maintain control systems in accordance with applicable electrical, machine-safety, and company standards.
- •Maintain accurate electrical drawings, network diagrams, program documentation, equipment manuals, and change records.
- •Travel up to 15% of the year to other Quanex facilities and OEM sites to provide technical support, commissioning services, and machine build acceptance testing.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
What You Bring
- •Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field; an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.
- •Minimum of five years of hands-on controls engineering or industrial automation experience in a manufacturing environment.
- •Working knowledge of electrical controls, instrumentation, sensors, variable-frequency drives, servo systems, industrial networks, and machine-safety systems.
- •Ability to read, develop, and update electrical schematics, control-panel drawings, and technical documentation.
- •Demonstrated ability to lead root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
About Quanex, A Part of Something Bigger
Quanex (NYSE: NX) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets. We are A Part of Something Bigger by improving the performance and aesthetics of end products through continuous innovation, helping customers achieve greater production efficiencies, dedication to giving back to communities where we operate, producing shareholder value and helping our employees learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at Quanex.com .
NOTE: For individuals with nut allergies, please be advised that there is the potential to be exposed to nut products when working in our facilities.