Controls designers create user interfaces on industrial machines using 3D design programs. They need knowledge of electronics, hydraulics, industrial equipment, design, and computers. A degree or certification in computer-aided writing and design is often required, and on-the-job training is common.
To become a controls designer, you’ll need engineering and industrial design experience. Also known as mechanical designers or controls engineers, controls designers create user interfaces on industrial machines using 3D design programs. A controls designer needs to have knowledge of electronics, hydraulics, industrial equipment, design and computers. To gain this knowledge, you can take classes at community colleges or colleges in machine design, computer-aided design, industrial manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. Individuals who want to become a controls designer can also earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a certification in drafting and computer-aided drafting.
Many employers have controls designer requirements that include some type of degree or certification in computer-aided writing and design. Community colleges and professional colleges offer degree programs in mechanical design and drafting that can help students become controls designers. These programs include classes on design concepts, electrical systems, industrial machine applications as well as how to use computer design software to map control systems.
To become a machine controls designer, individuals can also earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from a four-year university and then pursue a graduate degree in control systems design. A bachelor’s program will provide a solid background in engineering concepts and theories behind industrial machine design, and a vocational program will provide hands-on training in the use of computer-aided design programs. Some areas may also require licensing or certification in computer-aided design to become a controls designer, and professional schools or community colleges often include preparation for licensing exams in their programs.
Many employers also require on-the-job controls designer training for many mechanical design positions. This training usually involves mentoring from another machine designer or more informal training conducted by a senior company worker. Attending internships and securing entry-level positions while in school can be an excellent way to get that on-the-job training while working towards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Vocational schools often have placement programs to help students and graduates find jobs to gain experience in their field.
Control designer duties include preparing working diagrams of mechanical devices that include dimensions, specifications, and other engineering details. These diagrams are completed using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, and designers often include instructions for use and other comments on the designs. Designers can also prepare orthographic drawings to describe how controls will work. Control designers also work with other designers and the workers who use the equipment to understand their needs.
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