Electrical Controls Designer

Controls Design Development  |  Estimating  |  Production Design Coordination

Location:  Portland, Oregon metro area

Employment:  Full-Time

Reports To:  Principal Engineer

Compensation:  Salaried, based on experience and demonstrated capability

The Controls Designer turns an established controls architecture and customer input into a complete, well-supported quotation and, after award, a buildable production design. This person develops the details: clarifying requirements, selecting and pricing components, preparing BOMs and basic sequences of operation, coordinating programming estimates, and directing the preparation of schematics and panel layouts.

This is an individual-contributor position with no direct reports. The Controls Designer will usually direct and review the work of an in-house drafter rather than perform the core drafting, but must be able to create or revise drawings in DraftSight and SolidWorks when schedules or project needs require it. The Principal Engineer provides the basic architecture and retains final technical and commercial approval; the Controls Designer owns the accuracy and completeness of the package through final as-built documentation.

Quotation and concept development

•    Translate the architecture provided by the Principal Engineer and the customer's stated requirements into a defined, internally consistent basis of design.

•    Identify missing, conflicting, or risky requirements; communicate directly with customers and vendors as needed to close technical and pricing gaps, and clearly document unresolved assumptions.

•    Develop a basic sequence of operation, preliminary I/O list, network architecture, power distribution concept, safety approach, and major component selections appropriate to the quotation stage.

•    Build accurate quotation BOMs and material costs; obtain vendor pricing and lead-time information; estimate panel design, drafting, assembly, testing, and outside-service effort.

•    Coordinate with the assigned programmer or engineering specialist to obtain realistic programming, integration, and startup estimates rather than estimating outside personal expertise.

•    Prepare a review-ready quotation package with clear scope, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, deliverables, and technical risks.

Order engineering and production documentation

•    After award, validate the quoted basis against the final order and customer requirements; finalize component selections, BOMs, design calculations, and drawing instructions.

•    Provide clear direction, marked-up sketches, and design inputs to the in-house drafter for electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring details, and associated documentation.

•    Review drawings and BOMs carefully for technical accuracy, internal consistency, standards compliance, manufacturability, serviceability, labeling, and agreement with the quoted scope before submitting them for final approval.

•    Create or revise schematics and layouts in DraftSight and SolidWorks when necessary to meet project needs or unblock the work.

•    Support purchasing, panel fabrication, testing, and field personnel by answering design questions promptly; evaluate deviations and incorporate approved changes into the final as-built package.

•    Maintain disciplined revision control and organized design records across multiple simultaneous quotations and projects.

Standards and design quality

•    Know, or efficiently locate and correctly apply, relevant requirements from UL 508A, NFPA 79, NFPA 70, manufacturer documentation, customer specifications, and internal standards.

•    Address the details that make a design safe and buildable, including voltage and load calculations, branch-circuit protection, conductor sizing, SCCR, control power, grounding and bonding, disconnecting means, motor and motion control, safety circuits, enclosure selection, environmental conditions, heat dissipation, and wire/device identification.

•    Use checklists and a deliberate self-review process; surface uncertainty early and verify facts rather than allowing assumptions to become design errors.

•    Meet quotation and design deadlines while communicating workload conflicts, missing information, cost changes, and schedule risks early.

•    Two to five years of relevant experience in industrial controls design, control-panel design, machine automation, estimating, or a closely related role.

•    Associate's or Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electrical/electronic engineering technology, automation, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

•    Working knowledge of industrial electrical systems, including 24 VDC controls, 120 VAC controls, and 480 VAC three-phase power distribution.

•    Ability to select and apply PLCs, HMIs, industrial computers, I/O, power supplies, motor starters, VFDs, servo systems, safety devices, sensors, relays, disconnects, circuit protection, enclosures, terminals, and related panel components using manufacturer documentation.

•    Working knowledge of, and ability to navigate and apply, UL 508A, NFPA 79, and NFPA 70 requirements relevant to industrial control panels and machinery.

•    Experience developing BOMs, obtaining technical pricing, estimating labor, and documenting quotation assumptions for custom or low-volume equipment.

•    Ability to develop clear basic sequences of operation and communicate design intent to programmers, drafters, panel builders, customers, and vendors.

•    Practical proficiency with DraftSight and SolidWorks sufficient to create, review, and revise electrical schematics and panel layouts when needed.

•    Strong attention to detail and a demonstrated habit of checking part numbers, ratings, quantities, cross-references, drawing notes, revisions, and scope alignment.

•    Ability to manage several active estimates and designs, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and communicate blockers without losing control of details.

•    Clear written and verbal communication, sound technical judgment, and willingness to ask questions when requirements or facts are uncertain.