Full-Time
Senior Controls Engineer
Power & Energy Systems
Interstates
501-1,000 employees
Electrical, automation, and OT solutions provider
No salary listed
Omaha, NE, USA
In Person
Based near an Interstates office; up to 35% travel.
Bachelor's, Associate's
 Electrical Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- Associate’s degree (A.A., A.S.) in Instrumentation & Controls or related technical field preferred
- Equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience accepted
- Strong experience in industrial automation programming and startup/commissioning environments
- Experience working directly with customers on system requirements and technical solution design
- Hands-on experience with object-oriented programming, UI development, database systems, and system integration across industrial environments
- Design, develop, test, and implement PLC and SCADA-based control solutions for complex industrial and power systems, including generation assets, distributed energy resources, and OEM integrations across platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, Ignition, and AVEVA
- Develop and configure HMI applications that provide intuitive, real-time monitoring and control across industrial and energy environments
- Translate project requirements into scalable control system architectures while integrating field devices such as generators, switchgear, and energy storage systems using industrial communication protocols and enterprise platforms
- Partner with clients, engineers, OEMs, and IT/OT teams to deliver fully integrated automation solutions that align with operational, safety, and performance requirements
- Lead on-site commissioning and startup activities including FAT/SAT support, troubleshooting, system optimization, and operator training to ensure successful system performance in the field
- Create and maintain detailed project documentation including control narratives, system descriptions, operator manuals, commissioning records, and change logs
- Serve as a technical resource to clients and internal teams by solving complex problems, supporting system improvements, and ensuring reliable long-term operation of deployed systems
- Stay current with advancements in industrial automation, cybersecurity for OT systems, and energy applications such as DERs, microgrids, and demand response participation
- Contribute to internal standards, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement while adapting to evolving project and business needs
- Experience in energy-intensive or continuous process industries such as ethanol, seed oil, pet food, food & beverage, or similar
- Experience with distributed energy resources (DER), microgrids, energy storage systems, or hybrid generation
- Familiarity with energy market participation (demand response, peak shaving, ancillary services, ISO/RTO operations)
- Exposure to cloud platforms, IIoT systems, data analytics, or historian integration
- Knowledge of OT cybersecurity frameworks and secure system architecture practices
- Experience integrating OEM equipment into SCADA/PLC environments and unified control systems
Interstates provides electrical, automation, and operational technology services for industrial facilities. They design, install, and integrate electrical systems, control-and-automation solutions, and OT services to optimize manufacturing and processing operations. Their approach is an integrated, one-stop solution with engineering, project management, and field services delivered by a team treated like family, emphasizing safety, education, and career growth. They leverage a long history (over 65 years) to offer national and global reach with a focus on collaboration and trust across industries like food & beverage, consumer goods, energy & chemical, mining, and water/wastewater. The goal is to help industrial customers build reliable, efficient, and compliant facilities by providing end-to-end electrical, automation, and OT capabilities through a trusted partner relationship.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Sioux Center, Iowa
Founded
1953
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- The June 2026 Midwest data center safety award strengthens repeat-enterprise sales.
- Interstates' 2026 seed-facility win shows demand beyond data centers into food and agriculture.
- Digital content and newsletter migration in 2026 supports lower-cost client engagement and recruiting.
What critics are saying
- Data center work can dominate revenue; one hyperscale slowdown would hit 2026 bookings hard.
- Field safety failures can halt jobs, trigger claims, and damage owner trust after 2026 incidents.
- Talent depth is fragile; specialized controls engineers and PEs are hard to replace quickly.
What makes Interstates unique
- Interstates bundles electrical construction, engineering, automation, and instrumentation under one design-build team.
- Its 2026 Midwest data center safety award signals credibility on hyperscale, schedule-sensitive jobs.
- Prefabrication and PLC-panel capabilities shorten delivery on complex industrial and seed-facility projects.
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Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
Vacation
Flexible Schedule
Hybrid Work Options
Family Planning Benefits
Fertility Treatment Support
Conference Attendance Budget
Professional Development Budget
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Gym Membership
Phone/Internet Stipend
Home Office Stipend
Stock Options
Company Equity
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Relocation Assistance
Adoption Assistance
Childcare Support
Elder Care Support
Parental Leave
Bonus Incentives
Profit Sharing
Employee Referral Bonus
Tuition Reimbursement
Professional Certification Support
Training Programs
Mentorship Program
Remote Work Options
Hybrid Work Options
Performance Bonus
Company News
To further improve its cyber-awareness and protections, Interstates has also worked with Veracity Industrial Networks (veracity.io) for several years, and participated in developing its OT Network Controller software, which intuitively manages an SDN-capable switch from Dynics Inc. ( www.dynics.com ),and uses zero-trust and deny-by-default methods to improve network visibility and security.
To be intentional with making a difference in its communities, Interstates Engineering Inc launched a company-wide program called Engage in 2021.
Over the past 30 years, Interstates has received numerous state and national ABC Excellence in Construction Awards.
Interstates was recognized with the Award of Excellence in the Electrical – Industrial: $1M - $5M category, as well as the overall Project of the Year at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa Excellence in Construction Awards Gala on April 14 in Des Moines.
This article is part of a VB special issue. Read the full series here: Data centers in 2023: How to do more with less. Cloud adoption is growing, but data centers still remain the driving force for most enterprises worldwide. The reason is obvious: You get more control and flexibility over the servers and associated components (like networking equipment and storage). But, when you have a lean IT team at the helm, keeping such infrastructure ready for complex and modern workloads can also be quite a task. Case in point: Iowa-based Interstates, a 60-year-old provider of electrical, construction and engineering solutions, faced the challenge of frequently upgrading data center hardware to meet its business needs. We dive into its digital transformation storyInterstates’ VM-heavy workloadInterstates focuses on design-build electrical projects, plant floor automation and operational technology support for manufacturing and industrial environments