How do I Become a Process Control Engineer?

To become a process control engineer, you should understand the theories behind control engineering as well as its practical uses. Process control engineering is the body of knowledge which seeks to understand how dynamic systems work and how best to control these systems in order to achieve a desired set of results. It is necessary that you obtain a bachelor's of science or bachelor's of engineering in an engineering or computer science discipline in order to become a process control engineer who is highly sought after by companies. You should also have a strong grasp of certain programming languages so that you are able to design proper code for process controls.

If you desire to work more on the mechanical end of process control and fix machines that have stopped automating or optimize industrial and manufacturing equipment for control purposes, then majoring in an engineering field as an undergraduate student is best. Aspiring process control engineers will focus on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or chemical engineering in order to learn more about dynamic mechanical systems and how they operate in the real world. A strong bachelor's program in any of these disciplines will give you a solid technical basis from which to build your understanding of process control theory and application. You may also pursue internships through your university's career services office so that you are able to gain on the job engineering training.

For those who are more interested in the computer programming side of process control, majoring in computer science or information technology would be the most suitable. If you want to become a process control engineer and have a talent in software engineering, then you could find a job managing a company's process controls through specialized software and programs. Majoring in these fields will give you the tools you need to create effective code that allows you to maintain a wide variety of process control systems.

Knowledge of and experience with unique software platforms is an important skill needed to become a process control engineer. Many positions in the process control engineering field look for candidates that have experience with Honeywell Control Language (CL) and the Honeywell Distributed Control System (DCS). This platform is the most popular among control system platforms. Due to its widespread use, you should learn the inner workings of this platform thoroughly in order to become more eligible for jobs in this field.