Principal Controls & SCADA Architect

​​​​​​​Function: ​​​​​​​Engineering — Controls & Automation

Location: Minneapolis – St. Paul, MN​​​​​​​

Compensation: waiting for confirmation

About the Role
You’ll own the technical architecture for advanced controls and SCADA systems — PLC through industrial network through Ignition/SCADA through SQL and data into enterprise systems — for an established controls contractor building out a national controls and automation practice. Rockwell-based PLC work is the center of gravity and the main focus of the seat; DDC sits alongside it. The work lands in data centers and other critical infrastructure.

This is a strong fit for someone who has designed and implemented complex PLC/SCADA systems and is ready to stop being the person who programs PLCs and become the person who architects the system — sitting across from a sophisticated customer engineering team, defending the design, establishing the standards, and leading the technical discussion. There are no direct reports; your leverage is technical credibility and the standards you write, most of which you’ll build from a blank page.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Own the technical architecture end to end — PLC, industrial network, Ignition/SCADA, SQL and data, enterprise systems
• Design and implement complex PLC/SCADA systems for mission-critical facilities
• Set technical direction on Allen-Bradley/ControlLogix and Studio 5000, including the UDT, AOI, and state machine patterns underneath
• Own the Ignition layer — Perspective standards for graphics, navigation, alarming, trending, and tag structure
• Architect the industrial network and the data path — OPC UA, MQTT/Sparkplug, Modbus, EtherNet/IP and CIP, SQL — with cybersecurity designed in
• Establish and govern the standards: PLC programming, SCADA design, and technical documentation
• Sit across from sophisticated customer engineering teams, architect the system, defend the design, and lead the technical discussion
• Support UL 508A panel design, FAT/SFAT, and startup

About You:

• Senior/principal-level controls and automation experience — required
• Deep hands-on Allen-Bradley/ControlLogix and Studio 5000 — required
• Deep hands-on Ignition SCADA, Perspective in particular — required
• Industrial networking and controls system architecture — required
• You’ve designed and implemented complex PLC/SCADA systems, not just programmed them — required
• PLC is the main focus, but DDC is in the mix — you can speak DDC and BMS integration credibly at the concept level
• Highly desirable: UDTs, AOIs, state machines, alarming, OPC UA, MQTT/Sparkplug, SQL, Modbus, EtherNet/IP and CIP, cybersecurity, UL 508A panels, FAT/SFAT, and strong technical documentation
• Backgrounds that fit: industrial automation, manufacturing, data centers, critical infrastructure, system integrators, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley shops, Ignition integrators, and SCADA/OT engineering

What We Offer:

• A true architect seat — no direct reports, with authority earned through standards and technical credibility
• Effectively greenfield: you define the patterns and standards rather than inheriting someone else’s
• Complex, mission-critical work at real scale, on modern platforms
• Competitive compensation and a full benefits package