A controls engineer is generally responsible for taking a variety of different parts of a project and putting them together to make them function as they were designed to. For the most part, these jobs require candidates to have at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. There are some positions, however, in which a master's degree is required. The people who hold these jobs normally have several years of relevant work experience in the engineering field.
Controls engineers could work in a number of different industries. These professionals can choose either to work for someone else or work for themselves on a freelance basis. If they choose to work for someone else, they might work for aviation companies or for manufacturing businesses. A controls engineer generally holds a fairly high-level position in terms of responsibility. People who excel in these jobs are usually able to handle high pressure situations without becoming overly stressed. They also tend to thrive when meeting tight deadlines.
People who hold these jobs need to know how to read blueprints, and to understand all of the various parts of the project they are working on. A controls engineer should be able to grasp the intricacies of project plans, goals, and deadlines in order to be able to meet the needs of his employer. In addition to having a solid grasp of engineering concepts, such a professional should also be familiar with project management principles. Self-employed individuals also need to know how to market their businesses in order to attract clients.
For some controls engineer jobs, these individuals are required to be knowledgeable about computer programming. They may also be expected to troubleshoot a variety of different engineering problems that could arise during the course of completing a project. In addition, they are normally responsible for completing testing on various phases of a project to ensure that systems are working as needed.
Someone who works as a controls engineer might have to work with a number of different workers, including contractors, plant managers, electricians, or crew members. As part of this process, these professionals usually sit in on many different types of meetings, and may also participate in the testing of some systems involved in the project. Such individuals may be relied upon for making recommendations to upper management regarding steps that need to be taken for improvements, changes, or problem-solving.
