Hire the Best Control Engineering Professionals

Clients rate our Control Engineering Professionals
Rating is 4.7 out of 5.
4.7/5
Based on 103 client reviews
Getnet Baye D.

Debre Tabor, Ethiopia

$5/hr
5.0
2 jobs

I am a lecturer at Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia. I have more than Eight years of experience in Electrical and computer engineering, an expert in - Electrical Power Engineering, I am experienced in power system stability, electrical machine, power electronics and electrical drives, renewable energy, network modeling, and electrical installation design. I have a great experience on MATLAB, DIg SILENT, and PSSE, Microsoft word, Microsoft excel, data entry, and file management

  • Circuit Design
  • Data Analysis
  • DIgSILENT
  • Article Spinning
  • AutoCAD HVAC Loads Calculations
  • PV System Design
  • MATLAB
  • Lecture Notes
  • Power System
Gregory D.

Little Rock, Arkansas

$60/hr
4.8
113 jobs

I'm a certified professional electrical engineer with 10+ years experience. I have experience in design, maintenance and testing equipment from LV, MV and HV systems. I've worked in facility substations and electric utility systems. Equipment includes but not limited to, power transformers, control power transformers, PT's, CT's, vacuum circuit breakers interrupters, and protection relays. In addition to design of this equipment I have worked with switchgear ranging from 480V - 13.8kV. Throughout my career I have a substantial role in electrical engineering design related to Power Generation projects including: job scope development, site layout/routing, design calculations, coordination with CADD process, and production of both preliminary and final design drawings and documentation. As well as interfacing directly with clients to establish new projects and to develop proposals in response to requests for work. I am competent to independently evaluate, select, and apply standard engineering design techniques, procedures and criteria, using judgment in making adaptations and modifications to align with specific project goals and requirements. I have been responsible for design of both AC and DC side of system sites. For Solar Systems, as an example, racking, panel layout, stringing, AC side collection system and utility interconnection applications. As a licensed engineer in the state of California I very familiar with those permitting requirements but familiar with all permitting and construction requirements. Some other skills include P6 scheduling and planning. Trained scheduling professional. Very familiar with NEC code and standards. Plc automation, switchgear design and cabinet design. I have lots of experience automating and programming control systems for industrial applications as well as PLC configurations. SME in General Electric MKVI, MKVIe control systems with a minimum of 7+ years OEM field service experience. Understanding of Maintenance Philosophy to include strategic and tactical maintenance planning, inspection methods, field execution quality management, inspection oversight/execution, critical component parts tracking, standard maintenance procedure reviews, Predictive Maintenance program reviews, and Condition Based Maintenance Programs. Extensive experience with gas turbines and the power industry. Power and Design Engineering in the field of Electrical engineering. Licensee number E21635 Electrical Engineering (SLD review, wire-size calculations, inverter sizing, safety, labeling) - NEC, NESC, NFPA 70E, IEEE, ANSI and NEMA standards - Main panel upgrade, NEM interconnections, and system sizing requirements - Structural Engineering (PV racking, load calculations, wind/snow load calculations)

  • Electrical Layout Design
  • Electrical Design
  • Load Calculation
  • Electrical Engineering
  • National Electrical Code
  • Project Management Professional
  • Solar Design
  • Solar Energy
  • Electrical Drawing
  • PV System Design
  • PVSyst
  • MEP Design
  • Solar Energy Simulation
waleed K.

Lahore, Pakistan

$35/hr
4.9
111 jobs

I am a control systems integrator with 9+ years of experience in industrial controls and automation (PLC/ SCADA/ RTU/ DCS). As the manager of the company "Autovative Ltd.", me and my team have successfully completed 20+ process automation & CAD projects & services since 2021.and include projects for following industries, but not limited to: --water & wastewater (Ajman Wastewater Treatment Plant, UAE) --GEOSCADA (Arafat Yard SAS SCADA, Saudi Arabia) --food & beverages(PEPSICO, Bangladesh) --Infrastructure (Roads Access Management Center, Qatar) Software/ Hardware skills for industrial Automation Include notable PLC/SCADA/DCS vendors like Rockwell Automation, Siemens, AVEVA / Wonderware, Schneider Electric, Software integration APIs (JS, HTML, C# .NET) and famous protocols like Ethernet IP, MODBUS, Profinet, OPC UA etc.) CAD services delivered include product design, Technical drawings for electrical & control panels, photorealistic rendering, motion analysis, FEA and Animation using software like Solidworks, Solidworks Electrical, Autocad electrical etc.

  • CAD
  • 3D Rendering
  • SolidWorks
  • Mechanical Design
  • Engineering Design
  • Industrial Engineering
  • PLC Programming
  • SCADA
  • Electrical Layout Design
  • Automation
  • Modbus
  • Industrial Automation
Karlis A.

Riga, Latvia

$150/hr
5.0
14 jobs

Most hardware products don't fail at the idea — they fail at execution. I lead architecture, embedded, and firmware work for founders building hardware that has to ship at production, not just demo. I'm Karlis, principal engineer and founder of null2.one — a small senior studio for 0→1 hardware product work. We work with founders, scale-ups, and engineering teams where the cost of a wrong technical decision is months and six figures. Where I'm strongest — Hardware product architecture — Embedded systems and firmware (STM32, ESP32, nRF, Linux) — Power electronics, battery, USB-PD, thermal — Sensors and closed-loop control — Robotics and mechatronics — DFM and industrialization (EVT → DVT → PVT) What I actually solve — "Our prototype works on the bench but won't survive a factory." — "We've burned months on the wrong architecture and need to reset before raising again." — "We're juggling four freelancers and have no senior technical owner." — "We need to validate the risky paths before committing to tooling and certifications." — "Our BOM looks fine on paper and is unmanufacturable at volume." How I work — three phases, fixed scope, fixed price 01. Product Definition & Architecture — 4 to 8 weeks Turn product ambiguity into explicit architectural, commercial, and production decisions before execution begins. Output: a product definition that survives contact with production. 02. Prototype & Validation — 6 to 14 weeks Architecture-first prototyping that surfaces real constraints early. EVT-grade hardware with a clear path to production. Firmware, electronics, and mechanical integrated into one validated system. 03. Production Readiness & Industrialization — 8 to 20 weeks Design for manufacturing, supplier selection, EVT/DVT/PVT gate support, end-of-line test strategy, clean handoff to manufacturing. The work that decides whether first-run yield holds. Every engagement starts with Phase 01. No exceptions. You decide whether to continue to the next phase based on what comes out of the previous one. Indicative pricing (USD) — Phase 01 — Definition & Architecture: $8k–$25k — Phase 02 — Prototype & Validation: $35k–$120k — Phase 03 — Production Readiness: $60k–$250k+ Background — Principal engineer & founder, null2.one — Senior Product Manager, Aerones — robotics for wind-turbine inspection and maintenance — CTO & CCO, NovaticLab — patent-pending robotic automation — BEng, VIA University College, Denmark — 10+ years across robotics, embedded, IoT, wearables, ruggedized industrial hardware Why this works You stop paying for time and start paying for outcomes. Each phase has a defined deliverable and a price agreed before any engineering begins. You decide whether to continue at every gate — no open-ended retainers, no scope drift. Everything we produce belongs to you: architecture, design files, firmware, test procedures, supplier relationships. No IP lock-in. Who I work with — Hardware founders who need clarity and a real architecture before raising or building — Scale-ups who need deep technical execution on a critical system — Funded startups where the next architecture decision is worth six figures of avoided rework — Engineering teams that need senior system-level leadership without hiring a CTO Not a fit — Pure SaaS or web work — "Can you just build this?" hourly task work — Sub-$5k scopes — Buyers shopping primarily on price — Branding or marketing-only engagements Next step If you have a hardware product where the technical decisions are expensive to get wrong, send the job invite. I respond within one business day with an honest read on whether we're a fit. If we are, we scope a Phase 01 — fixed price, defined deliverable, no commitment beyond that.

  • Control Engineering
  • Hardware Prototyping
  • Hardware Design
  • Embedded System
  • Firmware Programming
  • Firmware
  • PCB Design
  • Power Electronics
  • Robotics
  • Mechatronics
  • Sensor
  • Sensor Fusion
  • Industrial Internet of Things
  • Bluetooth LE
  • STM32
  • ESP32
  • ESP8266
  • Design for Manufacturing
  • Product Architecture
Muhammad Adeel A.

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

$40/hr
5.0
12 jobs

Your production line stops. Your prototype fails FEA. Every hour of downtime costs you thousands. I'm a Mechatronics Engineer who designs the machine in SolidWorks AND programs the Siemens PLC that runs it. 𝟴+ 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗲𝘁. Mechanical designer, PLC programmer, electrical engineer — usually three people. I am all three. ➤ 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗣𝗟𝗖 / 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗔 / 𝗛𝗠𝗜) ✔ PLC programming — Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1200/1500), Step 7, Siemens Fail-Safe PLC; Schneider EcoStruxure, SoMachine ✔ SCADA & HMI — WinCC Flexible/Unified, Vijeo Designer; recipes, alarms, PID tuning ✔ Functional safety — IEC 61511, IEC 61131-3, SIL/SIF, ESD, hardwired interlocks, Pilz/Omron ✔ Drives & motion — VFD, servo (SINAMICS, Altivar, Nidec Digitax HD M750), STO ✔ Protocols — PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Modbus TCP/RTU, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, MQTT ✔ Electrical design — ProfiCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical; LAPP EPIC, Phoenix Contact, Weidmüller; BOM, cable schedule, FAT ✔ Commissioning, RCA, PLC migration, logic retrofit, schematic walk-down, fault tree ✔ Manufacturing improvement — SMED, OEE, WCM/PM-pillar ✔ IIoT, Industry 4.0, Digital Twin — sensors, data acquisition, predictive maintenance ➤ 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 & 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗖𝗔𝗗 / 𝗙𝗘𝗔 / 𝗖𝗙𝗗) ✔ 3D CAD — SolidWorks (primary), Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion 360, AutoCAD; assemblies, sheet metal, weldments ✔ FEA — ANSYS Mechanical/Workbench, SpaceClaim, APDL, SolidWorks Simulation; static, modal, harmonic ✔ CFD & thermal — ANSYS Fluent conjugate heat transfer (CHT), natural convection, heatsink design, passive thermal management ✔ Drop & shock — Explicit Dynamics, vibration isolation, hyperelastic rubber (Mooney-Rivlin) ✔ Fatigue & failure — S-N curve, Goodman, rotating bending, stress concentration ✔ Non-linear FEA — frictional contact, large deformation, elastic-plastic, snap-fit force-deflection ✔ DFM / DfAM — injection molding, CNC, sheet metal, GD&T (ASME Y14.5); FDM/SLA/SLS, Carbon Fiber PLA, lattice infill ✔ Topology optimization, reverse engineering, product design (sketch → manufacturing-ready CAD) ➤ 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 FMCG & Aseptic Packaging (Tetra Pak, IPACK, Mariani) | Oil & Gas / LPG | Tier-1 Pharma (NDA) | Consumer Electronics & IoT | Drone / UAV | Renewable Energy / Solar | Industrial Equipment | Agricultural Equipment Supporting: IP66/IP67 outdoor enclosure design, LiPo + BMS, solar charge controllers, Hall-effect/capacitive sensing, mechanical and thermal integration of Quectel SC206 cellular modules. ➤ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 ✔ LPG Plant — Siemens Fail-Safe PLC + hardwired ESD; 100% safety compliance, zero manual intervention ✔ Tetra Pak — closed-loop ink control with 12+ PID loops on Siemens S7 + WinCC; zero customer claims ✔ IPACK Slitter — +1.7% OEE, 15% changeover reduction via Siemens PLC logic retrofit (SMED) ✔ Flywheel UPS — saved $7,000+ via in-house RCA and component-level repair ✔ Drone Airframe — Carbon Fiber PLA in SolidWorks, FEA-validated 1.08 mm peak deflection ✔ Solar Smart Camera — IP66 outdoor unit, thermal validated by ANSYS Fluent CFD/CHT ✔ Pharma Panels — 21-page ProfiCAD redraw + revision pass under NDA ➤ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲 ✔ 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹-𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 — SolidWorks design + PLC programming, one engineer ✔ 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱-𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 — 8+ years of live commissioning on Siemens and Schneider ✔ 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 — every project reports the metric the client tracks ✔ 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 — clear about what I own vs. don't Have a machine to build, a product to design, or a PLC system to fix? Click "𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲" and I'll reply within 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. ➤ 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 PLC programming, industrial automation, SCADA, HMI, PID tuning, Siemens TIA Portal, S7-1200/1500, Step 7, Fail-Safe PLC, Schneider EcoStruxure, WinCC, Vijeo Designer, Ladder Logic, Structured Text, IEC 61511, functional safety, SIL, ESD, Pilz, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Modbus, OPC UA, EtherNet/IP, VFD, SINAMICS, Altivar, Nidec Digitax, STO, ProfiCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical, LAPP EPIC, BOM, cable schedule, FAT, PLC commissioning, PLC migration, logic retrofit, recipe management, RCA, failure analysis, SMED, OEE, WCM, IIoT, Industry 4.0, digital twin, predictive maintenance, mechatronics engineer, machine builder, turnkey automation, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion 360, ANSYS Mechanical, ANSYS Workbench, ANSYS Fluent, SpaceClaim, FEA, CFD, conjugate heat transfer, heatsink design, fatigue analysis, S-N curve, modal analysis, harmonic analysis, drop test, vibration isolation, Mooney-Rivlin, non-linear FEA, topology optimization, lattice infill, snap-fit, mechanical design, mechanical engineering, product design, sheet metal, injection mold, GD&T, ASME Y14.5, 3D printing, DfAM, FDM, Carbon Fiber PLA, reverse engineering, DFM, aseptic packaging, pharma, oil and gas, LPG, consumer electronics, IoT hardware, drone, UAV, solar.

  • Control Engineering
  • PLC
  • PLC Programming
  • Industrial Automation
  • Simatic
  • SCADA
  • SolidWorks
  • ANSYS
  • TIA Technology TIA
  • Ladder Logic
  • CAD
  • 3D Modeling
  • 3D Printing
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Electrical Drawing
  • Siemens NX
  • Design for Manufacturing
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Design
  • Product Design
Bassem Z.

Takelsa, Tunisia

$20/hr
4.8
241 jobs

Electrical engineer with many years of experience in Electrical Design and Industrial Automation. I can design electrical switcheagrs, motor control centers and control panels for special and industrial machinery: Single line diagrams, wiring diagrams, general arrangement, BOM, etc. I use Autocad and Autocad Electrical. I am also proficient with PLC and HMI programming accross various platforms like Delta Automation, Automation Direct, Proface, Codesys, Red Lion, Idec, etc.

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Electrical Design
  • Electrical Drawing
  • Hardware Design
  • CAD Drafting
  • PLC Programming
  • CODESYS
  • Panel Layout
  • PLC
  • Ladder Logic
  • Power Distribution
  • Energy Storage
  • Load Calculation
  • Energy Engineering
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Power Systems Engineering

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Don't just take our word for it

What does a Control Engineering freelancer do?

A control engineering freelancer designs, programs, and validates the automated logic that governs industrial machinery and plant processes. This role translates functional requirements into executable code for programmable logic controllers, distributed control systems, and human-machine interfaces. The work bridges theoretical control strategies with physical hardware to ensure equipment operates safely and meets production targets.

  • Authors functional descriptions and control strategies that define how automation systems respond to process variables and operator inputs. These documents guide the development of PLC and DCS programming by specifying logic sequences, safety interlocks, and alarm conditions before any code is written.
  • Develops control configuration and writes logic using IEC 61131 programming languages or MATLAB/Simulink models to implement the defined strategies. This work includes building HMI screens, configuring databases for historical trending, and setting up reporting functions that allow operators to monitor system performance in real time.
  • Executes factory acceptance testing and site acceptance testing to verify that the installed system matches design specifications and customer requirements. The freelancer troubleshoots communication issues across industrial networks like Ethernet or Fieldbus, adjusts control parameters during commissioning, and compiles user manuals and test reports for final handover.

How to hire a Control Engineering freelancer on Upwork

Step 1: Post a job

Define your automation requirements clearly to attract qualified candidates. Use the Job Post Generator powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI to draft a precise description from a few sentences about your needs. You can write a new post, update a saved draft, or reuse an existing post.

  • Specify required IEC 61131 programming languages and PLC or DCS platforms for your control logic.
  • List necessary simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and controller design validation.
  • Detail expected deliverables such as functional descriptions, HMI configurations, and test plans.

Step 2: Evaluate candidates

Look for portfolios that demonstrate end-to-end automation project execution. Uma can run instant video interviews and build shortlists with side-by-side comparisons to help you assess technical fit.

  • Verify experience creating functional descriptions and control strategies from customer requirements.
  • Check for documented results from factory acceptance testing and site commissioning activities.
  • Confirm proficiency in configuring HMI systems, alarming, trending, and database reporting functions.

Step 3: Interview your top choices

Discuss specific technical challenges and workflow preferences with your shortlisted candidates. Schedule and conduct interviews within Upwork Messages to receive an immediate transcript and summary after each session.

  • Ask how they select industrial networking protocols like Ethernet or Fieldbus during system design.
  • Review their method for troubleshooting installation issues during operational acceptance tests.
  • Evaluate their approach to hardware-in-the-loop simulation for validating controllers against plant models.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Finalize deliverables and milestones before starting the engagement. Use Upwork Messages and the contract workroom for communication and project management, plus identity verification, payment protection, hourly tracking, and project funds for security.

  • Define milestones for submitting control configuration code and programmed logic artifacts.
  • Set clear expectations for user manuals and commissioning documentation upon project completion.
  • Establish criteria for accepting test plans and verified troubleshooting outcomes from site visits.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.

How much does hiring a Control Engineering freelancer cost?

Hiring a Control Engineering freelancer typically costs $500-$2,500 per project, depending on scope and experience. Final pricing depends on technical complexity, required integrations, source-material quality, revision needs, and the freelancer's experience level.

Control strategy documentation

$500-$1,200/project

Entry-level to mid-level
  • Written control logic guidance and automation strategy
  • Detailed requirements for communication protocols and network choices
  • Feedback on established project standards and regulatory compliance

PLC logic programming

$1,200-$3,000/project

Mid-level
  • Programmed logic using IEC 61131 languages for programmable controllers
  • MATLAB/Simulink workflow for controller design and validation
  • Defined requirements for factory acceptance testing versus functional specs

HMI and database setup

$3,000-$5,500/project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Configured screens with alarming, trending, and history functions
  • Structured data storage for reporting and operational records
  • Automated generation of operational reports from configured databases

System integration and testing

$5,500-$8,500/project

Senior-level
  • Connected industrial networking and fieldbus protocols for system communication
  • Documented results from factory and functional acceptance testing
  • Recorded issues and resolutions from structured testing methods

Commissioning and site acceptance

$8,500-$15,000/project

Expert-level
  • Completed site acceptance tests with adjustments for installation issues
  • Planned documentation for operation and maintenance procedures
  • Final verification outcomes and commissioning start-up artifacts

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a Control Engineering freelancer worth it?

For most businesses, yes: hiring a Control Engineering freelancer is worthwhile. You gain access to specialized automation expertise for specific plant upgrades or commissioning phases without the overhead of a full-time hire. This approach allows you to scale engineering resources up or down based on project milestones like factory acceptance testing.

How do I evaluate Control Engineering freelancer candidates?

Evaluate candidates by reviewing their experience with specific industrial protocols and their approach to validation. Look for examples where they authored functional descriptions and executed hardware-in-the-loop simulations to verify logic before deployment. A strong candidate demonstrates how they troubleshooted site acceptance issues using a structured method rather than just listing tools.

What deliverables should I expect from a Control Engineering freelancer?

Expect functional descriptions that define the control strategy and programmed logic compliant with IEC 61131 standards. The freelancer should also submit configured HMI systems with alarming and trending features, along with documented test results from factory and site acceptance testing.

Which tools do Control Engineering freelancers use for system design?

Freelancers typically use MATLAB/Simulink for modeling and simulation-based validation of controller designs. They configure programmable controllers using IEC 61131 languages and select industrial networking protocols such as Ethernet or Fieldbus during the system design phase.