Control Systems Project Engineer I

Location: Remote based position in the US.
Employment Status: Full Time
Compensation: $93,000 – $126,000 Annually + Bonus
Travel: Up to 50%

Who We Are

Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided by The Thermo Way, we are unified, dynamic, and committed to delivering excellence. Our culture is grounded in three core principles:

• Employee Success – investing in our people and their growth
• Customer Success – delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
• Financial Strength – operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity

The Control Systems Project Engineer serves as a member of the Engineering Standards & Quality team. This role combines hands-on control systems engineering expertise with responsibility for supporting and advancing engineering standards, lifecycle practices, quality expectations, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

In addition to leading project tasks and supporting project execution, this position helps define, govern, and reinforce the engineering processes, documentation standards, validation practices, and quality requirements that drive successful project delivery. The ideal candidate is passionate about technical excellence, quality, mentorship, and creating scalable engineering practices that improve consistency across projects and teams.

What You'll Do

Core Responsibilities

• Lead individual project-related tasks and small to mid-sized control system projects from initiation through completion.
• Support startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and validation activities for control systems.
• Lead and perform Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs).
• Develop and review instrumentation specifications and control system design documentation.
• Interpret and provide feedback on piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), electrical drawings, and field conditions.
• Apply advanced knowledge of PLC, HMI, network infrastructure, and control system integration technologies.
• Serve as a technical resource and provide engineering support for projects led by others.
• Take ownership of assigned work, ensuring quality, schedule, and budget objectives are achieved.

Engineering Standards & Quality

• Support the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of engineering standards, lifecycle requirements, and quality expectations.
• Help define and enforce documentation, engineering, and programming standards across the project lifecycle.
• Reinforce engineering lifecycle discipline, implementation consistency, and validation best practices.
• Contribute to the development of templates, reference artifacts, guidance documents, and best-practice examples.
• Provide coaching and guidance to engineering teams during design, implementation, testing, and project execution phases.
• Conduct internal project audits to evaluate adherence to engineering and quality standards.
• Witness and review internal and external testing activities to ensure customer requirements and quality expectations are met.
• Support lessons-learned initiatives by incorporating project feedback into standards, training materials, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Assist in the development and delivery of onboarding, quality, and standards-related training programs.
• Support communication and change-management efforts related to new engineering standards, procedures, and QMS requirements.
• Review engineering deliverables generated by others for technical accuracy, quality, consistency, and presentation.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate with engineering, project management, operations, customers, and trade partners to align scope, schedules, and deliverables.
• Communicate clearly, proactively, and professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify, communicate, and escalate risks, constraints, and scope changes early.
• Serve as the primary customer contact on assigned projects.
• Deliver detailed project feedback and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through responsiveness, accountability, and technical expertise.

Quality, Safety & Process

• Demonstrate and promote a strong understanding of Thermo's Quality Management System (QMS).
• Adhere to company policies, quality requirements, and established safety procedures.
• Deliver accurate, high-quality work with strong attention to detail.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, project execution, and organizational efficiency.
• Ensure customer and internal requirements are consistently met through disciplined execution and documentation practices.
• Maintain fit-for-duty expectations and uphold professional conduct at all times.

People Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and project team members.
• Support knowledge sharing and development of engineering best practices across the organization.
• Where applicable, direct and oversee junior staff regarding project, commissioning, construction, operations, or maintenance activities.

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; equivalent technical experience may be considered.
• Typically 4+ years of relevant control systems engineering experience.
• Minimum 2 years of experience performing at a Lead Control Systems Engineer level or equivalent technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience supporting industrial automation, control systems, commissioning, and project execution activities.

Skills & Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of PLC, HMI, SCADA, and industrial control system architectures.
• Strong understanding of instrumentation, controls, networking, and system integration principles.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical drawings, and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of engineering lifecycle management, testing, validation, and quality systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated initiative and ownership in project execution.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to translate engineering standards into practical, actionable guidance for project teams.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork

Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Participation in an on-call rotation may be required based on location and customer needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.