Sr Controls Engineer

Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With annual sales of $15 Billion, Ecolab operates in over 170 countries and employs more than 48,000 associates.  Our mission is to protect people and the vital resources necessary for life.

We are seeking a skilled Controls Engineer to design, develop, and implement Siemens and B&R PLC-based control systems for industrial equipment. This role requires strong experience with Siemens S7 platforms (TIA Portal), working knowledge of B&R PLCs (Automation Studio), industrial networking, and hands-on electrical knowledge (power distribution, control panels, motor starters/VFDs, instrumentation, and field wiring) to ensure safe, reliable operation. The ideal candidate can troubleshoot from the sensor/actuator level through PLC logic and HMI, and can support commissioning in manufacturing and customer environments.

This role supports Nalco Water, Downstream, and Food & Beverage businesses and partners closely with R&D, Product Management/Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver new product development and continuous improvement.

What’s in it for You:

• Opportunity to make an impact by advancing equipment used to help customers achieve clean water, safe food, abundant energy, and healthy environments.
• Work on a mix of new product development and lifecycle support in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package starting day 1 of employment (medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), company-paid pension, stock purchase plan, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and more), subject to local offerings.

Position Details:

• Location: Naperville, IL
• Work arrangement: Onsite with periodic time in a shop/fabrication environment

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement Siemens PLC-based control systems (S7-1200/1500) for industrial equipment, including pump/valve control, process regulation, and safety interlocks.
• Develop and support B&R PLC applications (Automation Studio) including I/O configuration, motion/drives interfaces as applicable, and integration with HMIs and field devices.
• Develop and debug control logic for fault detection, failover mechanisms, and system recovery in case of pump or component failure.
• Create HMI interfaces using Siemens WinCC (Comfort/Unified) for local and remote monitoring, enabling intuitive control, alarm management, and diagnostics.
• Lead electrical interface definition and collaborate on control panel architecture, including power distribution, circuit protection, control power (24VDC), grounding, and wiring practices.
• Integrate Siemens PLC systems with Building Management Systems (BMS) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms for centralized monitoring and control, using standard industrial gateways where needed.
• Establish and configure industrial communication protocols and networks including Profinet/Profibus, Modbus TCP/RTU, and BACnet, ensuring robust addressing, diagnostics, and interoperability.
• Develop control algorithms for energy optimization, load balancing, and predictive maintenance.
• Produce comprehensive documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, network architecture, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, commissioning procedures, and test plans.
• Support factory and field commissioning, perform loop checks, and troubleshoot electrical and controls issues (I/O, sensors, VFDs, motor circuits, network communications) during installation and operation.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure control system resilience and compliance with data center security standards.
• Implement automated testing and validation procedures to ensure control system reliability and performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field and 5 years of experience in industrial controls and automation systems.
• Proficiency in Siemens PLC programming (TIA Portal; S7-1200/1500). Experience with B&R PLCs (Automation Studio) is strongly preferred; other PLC platforms are a plus.
• Skilled in Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and Function Block Diagrams.
• Strong knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Profinet/Profibus, Modbus TCP/RTU, BACnet; OPC UA a plus).
• Experience with HMI/SCADA development tools (Siemens WinCC preferred; other platforms such as FactoryTalk, Ignition acceptable).
• Basic electrical knowledge including control panels, 3-phase motor controls, VFDs, sensors/instrumentation, and safe troubleshooting practices using common electrical test equipment.
• Familiarity with control theory, PID tuning, and process control principles.
• Experience in electrical interface design and panel layout.
• Knowledge of data center infrastructure and facility management systems
• Immigration Sponsorship not available for this role

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with industrial equipment controls (pumps, heat exchangers, dosing systems) and troubleshooting in a manufacturing or field-service environment.
• Familiarity with IoT platforms and cloud-based monitoring solutions.
• Understanding of cybersecurity best practices for industrial control systems.
• Knowledge of UL508A panel standards and electrical safety codes.
• Background in HVAC automation and thermal control systems.
• Experience with Siemens motion/drives integration and/or Siemens safety (Safety Integrated, safety relays, safety PLC) is a plus.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work is performed in an office and shop/fabrication environment; appropriate PPE is required as applicable.
• Ability to safely move around equipment builds and test areas, including standing and walking for periods of time.
• Occasional travel to support supplier builds, validation testing, and/or commissioning.

The pay range for this position is $85,900.00 - $128,900.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.