Prime Controls | Based in Lewisville, TX | ~75% Travel | Full-Time, Exempt
Build it. Program it. Start it up. See it run.
Most controls engineers write code for systems they never see come to life. This isn''t that job.
As an Automation Specialist II at Prime Controls, you''ll take projects from design through startup — architecting the control system, writing the PLC and HMI code, then traveling to site to commission the system you built and watch it run. If you''re the kind of engineer who''d rather be at startup than stuck at a desk, this role was built for you.
About the travel: This position travels roughly 75% of the time to project sites, with Lewisville, TX (Dallas–Fort Worth) as your home base. We''re up front about that because it''s the heart of the job — and for the right person, it''s the best part.
What you''ll own
- Serve as technical lead on small projects — the architecture, the templates, the schedule, the customer relationship
- Develop PLC programs (ladder, function block, structured text) and build the HMI, primarily on Allen-Bradley platforms
- Design control system architecture and communication strategy, and work directly with customers to define and document functionality
- Build BOMs, IO lists, and control panel requirements
- Write hardware and software test plans, including simulation logic, then run the tests
- Commission and start up installed systems on site — troubleshoot the real-world problems drawings never predict, and get the plant running
- Train the operations and maintenance teams who''ll live with your system
What we''re looking for
You''ll need:
- 4+ years of industrial controls experience (systems integration, AEC, manufacturing, or similar)
- 4+ years of PLC programming — ladder logic, function block, and structured text
- Strong hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley hardware and software
- Working knowledge of HMIs and industrial networking (EtherNet/IP)
- A BS in Electrical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering, a related technical degree, or equivalent hands-on controls experience — we care more about what you can do than where you learned it
- Willingness and ability to travel ~75% to project sites
Nice to have:
- 6+ years in the industry
- AutoCAD / Autodesk proficiency
Where this role can take you
This isn''t a seat you sit in forever — it''s where our leaders come from. Our current VP of Engineering started in this exact role. So did one of our Division Managers. The path from Automation Specialist to senior technical and leadership positions is real, walked, and repeatable — and the field experience you build in this role is precisely why. Engineers who''ve commissioned systems, faced down startup problems, and stood in front of customers are the ones we promote.
Why Prime Controls
We''re a family-owned Main Automation Contractor — 1,000+ employees strong, headquartered in Dallas–Fort Worth, serving clients nationwide since 2004. Two things make us different:
You''re an owner here. Our ESOP program means employees hold a stake in the company. When Prime Controls does well, your retirement account does too.
We do the whole job. As a full systems integration and I&C construction firm, our engineers see projects end to end — not just one slice of the work.
Benefits include: Health, dental, and vision coverage · 401(k) with company match · ESOP · Generous PTO · Flexible spending accounts · Company events and a culture that actually shows up for its people
Physical requirements
This role includes field work: standing for extended periods, occasionally lifting up to 25 lbs, and navigating active industrial sites (climbing, balancing, kneeling as needed). Reasonable accommodations are available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
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