Early Career Controls Engineer

This Opportunity WSP is recruiting for an Early Career Controls Engineer to work out of our Arlington, VA office. The Early Career Controls Engineer supports the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of industrial control systems used in automation, power distribution, and process control environments. This role works under the supervision of senior engineers to develop control logic, assist with system integration, and support commissioning activities. The position provides hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), SCADA systems, instrumentation, and electrical control panels. Your Impact + Assist in the design and development of industrial control systems including PLC, HMI, and SCADA-based automation platforms. + Support development and modification of PLC logic, control narratives, and system documentation. + Assist with configuration of HMI and SCADA systems for monitoring and control of facility processes. + Support the development and implementation of control systems / SCADA domain cybersecurity policies and monitoring. + Participate in preparation of engineering documents including control panel layouts, I/O lists, network architecture diagrams, and wiring diagrams. + Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning activities. + Troubleshoot control systems, application domains, communication networks, and instrumentation under guidance of senior engineers. + Assist with integration of field devices including sensors, actuators, drives, and power monitoring equipment. + Support field activities including equipment installation verification, system startup, and operational testing. + Maintain documentation including as-built drawings, configuration backups, and revision records. + Follow company safety procedures and engineering standards when working with electrical and control systems. Minimum Requirements + Bacheloru2019s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity or equivalent. + 0-1 yearsu2019 experience with and basic understanding of industrial control systems, Information Technology (IT) and automation principles. + Due to client requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required. + Ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI Clearance. + Personal skills to include: + Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. + Effective written and verbal communication skills. + Ability to work both independently and as part of an engineering team. Preferred Qualifications + Internship or coursework related to automation, SCADA, PLC programming, or industrial control systems support network and computer domains. + Exposure to PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Schneider Electric. + Familiarity with SCADA or HMI platforms. + Experience reading electrical schematics and control drawings. + Interest in industrial automation, power systems, or process control. + Successful candidate should have knowledge of one or more of the following areas of knowledge: + Basic understanding of industrial control systems and automation principles. + Familiarity with PLC programming concepts and industrial communication protocols (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet/IP). + Basic knowledge of electrical systems, instrumentation, and control panel components. + Working knowledge of Ethernet networking concepts such as IP addressing, switching, routing basics, and network troubleshooting. + Understanding of Windows and Linux domain infrastructure, including Active Directory, Group Policy, authentication, and basic administrative tasks. + Familiarity with basic cybersecurity concepts, including safe computing practices, threat awareness, and data protection. Work Environment + Combination of office engineering work and field activities in industrial or utility environments, as required by projects. + Will require occasional travel (up to 25% to project sites for commissioning, troubleshooting, or system startup.) + Travel may be out of area travel (including international) and include overnight stays. + Work may involve interaction with electrical equipment and industrial control panels. Career Development This position provides training and mentorship to develop proficiency in industrial control systems, automation design, IT/OT cybersecurity and field commissioning. Successful candidates typically progress toward Controls Engineer or Automation Engineer roles with increasing design and project responsibilities. About WSP WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employeeu2019s career. At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started? WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status. The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States. NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES: WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation u2013 no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.

Created: 2026-04-17