Sr. Controls Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Posting Title:Senior Controls and Instrumentation Engineer

Job Description:

North Wind is a leading independent supplier of complex hypersonic and Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) systems and services. Leveraging decades of specialized experience, North Wind delivers hypersonic and RDT&E capabilities through five complementary business segments: Applied R Test Articles and Critical System Components; Test Facility Design & Build; Test Services; Flight Testing & Flight Systems. The Company’s offerings span the full life cycle of aerospace & defense and commercial systems, including end-to-end turnkey solutions. Learn more at

Summary : Responsible for design, implementation, test, and support of electrical equipment, wiring, control equipment and data acquisition systems used in wind tunnel and hypersonic ground test projects. This is a diverse role that includes designing and validating predominantly custom one-off equipment and components for new tunnel facilities as well as major capability upgrades to existing facilities.

Responsibilities:

• Design & Analysis - Develop or reuse system design solution to meet customer requirements. Partner with designers and project team to deliver complete design package (drawings, BOMs, Etc.). Design and develop electronic subsystems, including data acquisition systems, control and integration of electro-mechanical valves and instrumentation (temperatures, pressures, flow, etc.), control loops, electrical control systems, junction boxes, and panel layouts.
• Scope, Schedule, Budget - Perform engineering tasks on schedule and within budget. Ensure system design aligns with as-sold scope, customer requirements, quality standards, and industry codes. Communicate regularly with project team on status, issues, and variances to plan.

• Document & Present - Document and present work in accordance with quality requirements. Prepare design criteria, calculation packages, procurement specifications, technical reports, validation plans, and product manuals. Participate and lead internal and customer design reviews.

• Support - Interface with procurement, production, and installation teams to quickly resolve issues discovered during assembly and test. Travel to customer and subcontractor sites for design reviews, site surveys, and system commissioning.

• Quote - Assist marketing in developing proposals for future work. Develop concepts, cost estimates, proposal write-ups, analyses, options, and recommendations.

Preferred Education / Experience:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from accredited university or related discipline.
• 10+ years of practical work experience in controls, electronics, data acquisition systems or similar role or;
• A combination of education and experience equivalent to above.
• Due to security requirements, US Person status required.

Preferred Knowledge / Ability:

• Experience with design and implementation of automation or data acquisition systems in an industrial setting.
• Proficiency with LabVIEW or PLCs with at least 5 years’ experience highly desired.
• Strong PLC, electro-mechanical systems, and software programming experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with one-line power diagrams and electrical load sizing
• Experience with designing and reviewing P&ID drawing (Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams).
• Experience with sensor hardware selections (thermocouples, RTD’s, pressure transducers, LVTD’s, switches, etc.)
• Must be a self-starter, able to balance priorities between multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively and productively as an individual contributor and collaborate as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and positive attitude.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally. Travel typically is less than 15%.

Due to U.S. State Department restrictions on access to technology, candidates must be “U.S. Persons” as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

North Wind is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. North Wind supports a safe and drug free workplace through pre-employment background checks and drug testing .