Control Systems Engineer

Alternate Titles: Controls Engineer, Process Control Engineer, Instrument & Controls
Engineer, Systems Engineer, Automation Systems Engineer, Manufacturing Automation
Engineer, Instrumentation & Electrical Engineer.
Description: Control Systems Engineers analyze user requirements and the design of
process and/or mechanical equipment to design automation systems that will cause the
equipment to function in the desired manner. They analyze user requirements,
procedures, and problems to identify the system components and develop the design and
functional specifications for the automation systems. They are responsible for the
interface between the hardware and software development for the automation system.
Sources of Material: Certified Automation Professional (CAP) Body of Knowledge,
Control Systems Engineer (CSE) Examination Specification, Automation Competency
Model.
Performance Domains:
Domain I: Measurement and Control Element Devices; Device Signals, and
Transmission Media
Domain II: System Design
Domain III: Development

Domain I: Measurement and Control Element Devices; Device Signals and

Transmission Media
Task 1: Select, specify, and design the installation of measurement devices to measure and
analyze physical and chemical properties.
Sensor technologies applicable to the desired type of measurement
Knowledge of:
(e.g., flow, pressure, level, temperature, analytical, counters,
position, motion, vision, etc.)
Sensor characteristics (e.g., rangeability, accuracy and precision,
temperature effects, response times, reliability, repeatability,
etc.)
Material compatibility
Safety Instrumented System [SIS] model validation calculations (e.g.,
Safety Integrity Level [SIL], reliability, availability, etc.)
Calculations involved in:
Skill in:
Pressure drop
Flow element sizing
Differential pressure
Hydraulic head pressure

Control Systems Engineer

Velocity, area, volumetric, density, and mass relationships

Velocity, acceleration, mass, work energy
Unit conversions
Linearization
Task 2: Select, specify, and design the installation of control element devices to manipulate
flows, energy, positions, speeds, and other variables.
Control Element devices
Knowledge of:
Pressure Relieving Devices
Types (e.g., conventional spring, balanced bellows, pilot
operated, etc.)
Characteristics (e.g., modulating, pop action, etc.)
Calculations (e.g., sizing considering inlet pressure drop,
back pressure, multiple valves, etc.)
Material selection based on process characteristics
Installation practices (e.g., linking valves, sparing the
valves, accessibility for testing, car sealing inlet valves,
piping installation, etc.)
Rupture discs (types, characteristics, application,
calculations, etc.)
Control Valves
Types (e.g., globe, ball, butterfly, etc.)
Characteristics (e.g., pneumatic or electric actuation, on/off,
modulating, linear, low noise, equal percentage, shutoff
class, etc.)
Calculation (e.g., body and trim sizing, split range, noise,
actuator sizing, speed, pressure drop, air/gas consumption,
etc.)
Applications of fluid dynamics (e.g., cavitation, flashing,
choked flow, Joule-Thompson effects, two-phase flow, etc.)
Material selection based on process characteristics (e.g.,
erosion, corrosion, plugged, extreme pressure, temperature,
etc.)
Accessories (e.g., limit switches, solenoid valves,
positioners, transducers, air regulators, etc.)
Environmental constraints (e.g., fugitive emissions, packing,
special sealing, etc.)
Installation practices (e.g., vertical, horizontal, bypasses,
troubleshooting, etc.)
Motor Driven Control Elements
Types of Motors (e.g. Single and Polyphase Alternating
Current (AC) Motors, Direct Current (DC) Motors, Stepper
Motors, Servo Motors, linear, etc)
Types of Motor Controllers or Drives (e.g. full voltage,
reduced voltage, reversing, variable frequency, adjustable
DC, servo, stepper, etc.)

Control Systems Engineer

Drive and/or Motor Characteristics (e.g. solid state, constant

torque AC, variable torque AC, vector AC, shunt wound
DC, etc.)
Calculations (e.g. horse power, torque, speed ranges,
reduction ratios, etc.)
Accessories (e.g. speed sensors, encoders, etc.)
Fluid powered actuators
Pneumatic pistons
Hydraulic pistons
Sizing actuators and control devices.
Other Control Elements
Solenoid valves
On-off devices/relays
Self-regulating devices
Safety Instrumented System [SIS] model validation calculations (e.g.,
Safety Integrity Level [SIL], reliability, availability, etc.)
Installation Design (e.g., process, fluid power systems, electrical, etc.)
Skill in:
Calculations for:
Valve sizing
Power requirements
Heat load, cooling, heating and space conditioning.
Horsepower and torque
Linear actuation force
Etc.
Task 3: Design and install wiring to reliably communicate information between
measurement and control element devices and control equipment.
Control Signals
Knowledge of:
Pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, optical, discrete voltage,
analog, digital, digital bus, etc.
Transducers (e.g., analog/digital [A/D], digital/analog [D/A],
current/pneumatic [I/P] conversion, etc.)
Electrical hazardous area classifications and required wiring and
protection methods (e.g. Intrinsic Safety, explosion proof, nonincendive, etc.)
Grounding, shielding, segregation, AC coupling
Basic signal circuit design (e.g., two-wire, four-wire, isolated
inputs/outputs, loop or external powering, etc.)
Signal Transmission
Signal communications system architecture physical layers
(e.g., fiber optics, coaxial cable, wireless, paired conductors,
fieldbus, industrial networks, etc.)
Signal Communications protocols (e.g. foundation fieldbus,
profibus, DeviceNet, ASi, Ethernet/IP, CAN, LonWorks,
BACnet, etc.)

Control Systems Engineer

Physical installation considerations versus transmission medium

type
Media types and specifications
Voltage drop or signal attenuation
Signal distortion due to media length or network structure
Active and passive network components (e.g. taps, splitters,
repeaters/amplifiers, terminators, etc.)
Grounding & shielding
Electrical Installations
Skill in:
Use of design standards and practices
Determination of applicable codes.
Calculations: circuit (voltage, current, impedance)
Calculations: unit conversions
Task 4: Calibrate, troubleshoot, test, repair, and improve sensing, measurement, and
actuation devices.
Installation requirements (e.g., grounding, shielding, constructability,
Knowledge of:
input/output termination, environmental, heat load calculations,
power load requirements, purging, etc.)
Functionality and performance of measurement and control element
devices
Commissioning (e.g., performance tuning, loop checkout, etc.)
Skill in:
Troubleshooting (e.g., root cause failure analysis and correction)
Domain II: System Design - do the complete conceptual design of the control and
information systems including specifications of the hardware and software to be used in the
system (sometimes called "front end engineering" or "basic engineering"); and also do the
"detail design" and procurement of the hardware systems including preparation of
construction work packages.
Task 1: Perform safety and/or hazard analyses, security analyses, and regulatory compliance
assessments by identifying key issues and risks in order to comply with applicable
standards, policies, and regulations.
Additional Codes, Standards, and Regulations:
Knowledge of:
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Factory Mutual (FM)
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
International Society of Automation (ISA)
National Electrical Code (NEC)
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Underwriter Laboratory (UL)
Equivalencies to international codes and standards
Hazard analysis methodologies
Risk analysis

Control Systems Engineer

Safety system design (e.g., Safety Instrumented System [SIS], Safety

Requirements Specification [SRS], application of OSHA 1910,
etc.)
Participating in a Hazard Operability Review
Skill in:
Analyzing safety integrity levels
Analyzing hazards
Analyzing risks
Assessing security requirements or relevant security issues
Applying regulations to design
Task 2: Establish standards, templates, and guidelines as applied to the automation system
using the information gathered in the definition stage and considering human-factor effects
in order to satisfy customer design criteria and preferences.
Process Industry Practices (PIP) (Construction Industry Institute)
Knowledge of:
IEC 61131 programming languages
Customer standards
Vendor standards
Template development methodology
Measurement and control element devices
Electrical standards and codes
Instrument selection and sizing tools
ISA standards (e.g., S5, S88)
Etc.
Developing programming standards
Skill in:
Selecting and sizing instrument equipment
Designing instrument installations.
Designing low-voltage electrical systems
Preparing drawing using AutoCAD software
Task 3: Create detailed equipment specifications and instrument data sheets based on
vendor selection criteria, characteristics and conditions of the physical environment,
regulations, and performance requirements in order to purchase equipment and support
system design and development.
Knowledge of:
Measurement and control element devices.
Electrical standards and codes
Instrument selection and sizing tools
Vendors' offerings
Motor and drive selection sizing tools
Electronic control system hardware (e.g. controller, power supplies,
input/output cards and chassis, communication hardware, etc.)
Human Machine Interface (HMI) (e.g., graphics, alarm management,
trending, historical data, etc.)
Ergonomics (e.g., human factors engineering, physical control room
arrangement, panel layout)
Selecting and sizing motors and drives
Skill in:

Control Systems Engineer

Selecting and sizing instrument equipment

Designing low-voltage electrical systems
Selecting and sizing computers
Selecting and sizing control equipment
Evaluating vendor alternatives
Selecting or sizing of input/output signal devices and/or conditioners
Task 4: Define the data structure layout and data flow model considering the volume and
type of data involved in order to provide specifications for hardware selection and software
development.
Knowledge of:
Data requirements of system to be automated (e.g. data sampling
frequency, storage duration, archival requirements, security,
integrity, etc.)
Data structures of control systems (e.g. distribution and access to data,
storage redundancies, distribution, archiving, etc.)
Data flow of controls systems (e.g. data buffering, time base stamp,
location of active and archive data files)
Data analysis tools
Entity relationship diagrams
Modeling data
Skill in:
Tuning and normalizing databases
Task 5: Select the physical communication media, network architecture, and protocols
based on data requirements in order to complete system design and support system
development.
Knowledge of:
Vendor protocols
Ethernet and other open networks
Physical requirements for networks/media
Physical topology rules/limitations
Network design
Security requirements
Redundancies, failure modes, and disaster recovery.
Grounding and shielding practices
Designing networks based on chosen media, architecture and protocols
Skill in:
Task 6: Develop a functional description of the automation solution (e.g., control
scheme, alarms, HMI, reports) using rules established in the definition stage in order to
guide development and programming.
Knowledge of:
Control theory
Basic processes (e.g., compression, combustion, distillation,
hydraulics, motion control, etc.)
Process dynamics (e.g., loop response, P-V-T relationships,
simulations, cycle times, throughput, etc.)
Basic control (e.g., regulatory control, feedback, feed forward,
cascade, ratio, PID, split-range, etc.)
Discrete control (e.g., relay logic, Boolean algebra, state logic,

Control Systems Engineer

function block/combinational logic, etc.)

Sequential control (e.g., batch, sequential function charts, logic
sequences, etc.)
Visualization, alarming, database/reporting techniques
Documentation standards
Vendors' capabilities for their hardware and software products
General control strategies used within the industry
Process/equipment to be automated
Operating philosophy
Writing functional descriptions
Skill in:
Interpreting design specifications and user requirements
Communicating the functional description to stakeholders
Task 7: Design the test plan using chosen methodologies in order to execute appropriate
testing relative to functional requirements.
Relevant test standards
Knowledge of:
Simulation tools
Process Industry Practices (PIP) (Construction Industry Institute)
General software testing procedures
Functional description of the system/equipment to be automated
Writing test plans
Skill in:
Developing tests that validate that the system works as specified
Task 8: Perform the detailed design for the project by converting the engineering and
system design into purchase requisitions, drawings, panel designs, and installation details
consistent with the specification and functional descriptions in order to provide detailed
information for development and deployment.
Field devices, control devices, visualization devices, computers, and
Knowledge of:
networks
Installation standards and recommended practices
Electrical and wiring practices
Specific customer requirements
Functional requirements of the system/equipment to be automated
Applicable construction codes and standards
Documentation standards
Productivity tools (e.g. InTools, AutoCAD, Microstation, etc.)
Typical industry standard drawings (e.g., PFD, P&ID, Loop Diagrams,
Ladder Diagrams, Logic Drawings, Cause & Effects Drawings,
SAFE Charts, etc.)
Performing detailed design work
Skill in:
Documenting the design
Task 9: Prepare comprehensive construction work packages by organizing the detailed
design information and documents in order to release project for construction.
Knowledge of:
Applicable construction practices
Documentation standards

Control Systems Engineer

Contracting and subcontracting of construction trades.

Assembling construction work packages
Skill in:
Domain III: Development - software development and coding. [domain IV of CAP]
Task 1: Develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) in accordance with the design
documents in order to meet the functional requirements.
Specific HMI software products
Knowledge of:
Tag definition schemes
Programming structure techniques
Network communications
Alarming schemes
Report configurations
Presentation techniques
Database fundamentals
Computer operating systems
Human factors/ergonomics
HMI supplier options
Presenting data in a logical and aesthetic fashion
Skill in:
Creating intuitive navigation menus
Implementing connections to remote devices
Documenting configuration and programming
Programming configurations
Task 2: Develop database and reporting functions in accordance with the design documents
in order to meet the functional requirements.
Relational database theory
Knowledge of:
Specific database software products
Specific reporting products
Programming/scripting structure techniques
Network communications
Structured Query language
Report configurations
Entity diagram techniques
Computer operating systems
Data mapping
Presenting data in a logical and aesthetic fashion
Skill in:
Administrating databases
Implementing connections to remote applications
Writing queries
Creating reports and formatting/printing specifications for report output
Documenting database configuration
Designing databases
Interpreting functional description
Task 3: Develop control configuration or programming in accordance with the design

Control Systems Engineer

documents in order to meet the functional requirements.

Specific control software products
Knowledge of:
Tag definition schemes
Programming structure techniques
Network communications
Alarming schemes
I/O structure
Memory addressing schemes
Hardware configuration
Computer operating systems
Processor capabilities
Standard nomenclature (e.g., ISA)
Process/equipment to be automated
Interpreting functional description
Skill in:
Interpreting control strategies and logic drawings
Programming and/or configuration capabilities
Implementing connections to remote devices
Documenting configuration and programs
Interpreting P&IDs
Interfacing systems
Task 4: Implement data transfer methodology that maximizes throughput and ensures
data integrity using communication protocols and specifications in order to assure efficiency
and reliability.
Specific networking software products (e.g., I/O servers).
Knowledge of:
Network topology
Network protocols
Physical media specifications (e.g., copper, fiber, RF, IR)
Computer operating systems
Interfacing and gateways
Data mapping
Analyzing throughput
Skill in:
Ensuring data integrity
Troubleshooting
Documenting configuration
Configuring network products
Interfacing systems
Manipulating data
Task 5: Implement security methodology in accordance with stakeholder requirements
in order to mitigate loss and risk.
Basic system/network security techniques
Knowledge of:
Customer security procedures
Control user-level access privileges
Regulatory expectations (e.g., 29 CFR Part 11)
Control Systems Engineer

Industry standards (e.g., ISA)

Documenting security configuration
Skill in:
Configuring/programming of security system
Implementing security features
Task 6: Review configuration and programming using defined practices in order to
establish compliance with functional requirements.
Specific control software products
Knowledge of:
Specific HMI software products
Specific database software products
Specific reporting products
Programming structure techniques
Network communication
Alarming schemes
I/O structure
Memory addressing schemes
Hardware configurations
Computer operating systems
Defined practices
Functional requirements of system/equipment to be automated
Programming and/or configuration capabilities
Skill in:
Documenting configuration and programs
Reviewing programming/configuration for compliance with design
Requirements
Task 7: Test the automation system using the test plan in order to determine
compliance with functional requirements.
Knowledge of:
Testing and simulation techniques
Specific simulation products and software.
Specific control software products
Specific HMI software products
Specific database software products
Specific reporting products
Network communications
Alarming schemes
I/O structure
Memory addressing schemes
Hardware configurations
Computer operating systems
Functional requirements of system/equipment to be automated
Writing test plans
Skill in:
Executing test plans
Documenting test results
Programming and/or configuration capabilities
Implementing connections to remote devices
Control Systems Engineer

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Interpreting functional requirements of system/equipment to be

automated
Interpreting P&IDs
Task 8: Assemble all required documentation and user manuals created during the
development process in order to transfer essential knowledge to customers and end users.
Knowledge of:
General understanding of automation systems
Computer operating systems
Documentation practices
Operations procedures
Functional requirements of system/equipment to be automated
Documenting technical information for non-technical audience
Skill in:
Using documentation tools
Organizing material for readability - field ins

Control Systems Engineer

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