How to Source Controls and Automation Engineers on LinkedIn
The Problem Nobody Wants to Admit
You’ve posted the job.
You’ve paid for LinkedIn Recruiter.
You’ve contacted a dozen candidates.
You’ve spoken with several recruitment agencies.
And yet, weeks later, you’re still struggling to identify suitable candidates.
Sound familiar?
The industrial automation sector faces a unique recruitment challenge.
Unlike software engineering, where job titles and skillsets are relatively standardised, the industrial automation ecosystem is fragmented across hundreds of technologies, suppliers, industries, and company types.
The candidate you are searching for may describe themselves as:
- Controls Engineer
- Automation Engineer
- PLC Engineer
- PLC Programmer
- Control Systems Engineer
- EC&I Engineer
- SCADA Engineer
- Commissioning Engineer
- Industrial Software Engineer
- Process Control Engineer
Meanwhile, their LinkedIn profile may contain none of the keywords used in your job description.
The result?
Many recruiters spend weeks searching for candidates that are effectively invisible.
The problem isn’t a shortage of engineers.
The problem is that most recruiters are searching the wrong way.
Why Traditional Recruitment Methods Fail
Most recruiters begin with a job title such as “Controls Engineer”
Unfortunately, this immediately excludes large portions of the talent pool.
An engineer with 15 years of Allen Bradley, Siemens, SCADA, commissioning and FAT experience may simply call themselves an automation Engineer, control systems engineer, ICSS engineer or even a C&I engineer.
Two engineers may perform almost identical roles while sharing very few common keywords.
This is why generic recruiter searches often fail.
Understanding the Industrial Automation Ecosystem
Before searching for candidates, recruiters should understand where automation engineers develop their skills.
Candidates typically come from one of five environments:
┌────────────┐ ┌────────────┐ ┌────────────┐ ┌────────────┐ ┌────────────┐
│ CSI │ │ EPC │ │ MAC │ │ OEM │ │ END USER │
└─────┬──────┘ └─────┬──────┘ └─────┬──────┘ └─────┬──────┘ └─────┬──────┘
│ │ │ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
PLC / SCADA FEED & Design DCS / SIS Robotics Asset Owner
Integration C&E Diagrams Product Motion Standards
FAT / SAT Specifications Expertise Control Compliance
Commissioning Vendor Mgmt Cybersecurity Machine Safety Project DeliveryControl System Integrators (CSI)
Companies responsible for designing, programming and commissioning automation systems. Examples include regional system integrators and specialist automation contractors such as Wundech Malec, Thermo Systems and Andritz.
Typically most CSI’s are “vendor neutral” and tend to be solution driven rather than product driven, this is a key distinction from large automation contractors such as Emerson.
Controls Engineers with CSI experience often possess:
- Broad knowledge and technical skills across a wide range of PLCs, SCADA and MES platforms.
- Good integration skills, particularly with desperate technologies (developing custom middle ware and solutions to connect platforms and devices from different OEMs).
- Commissioning and FAT experience and geranlly strong client-facing project experience
Engineering Contractors (EPC)
EPC contractors are companies that manage the entire lifecycle of a construction project, handling engineering, procurement, and construction under a single contract. Examples include Technip Energies, Jacobs, Worley and Bechtel.
Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors play a central role in translating process requirements into detailed automation design packages that can be implemented by Main Automation Contractors (MACs) and system integrators.
Unlike controls engineers working primarily in configuration or commissioning, EPC automation engineers focus on the front-end and detailed design phases of projects.
Their responsibilities typically include developing control narratives, cause-and-effect diagrams, sequence logic descriptions, I/O schedules, network architectures, and system integration specifications based on process design inputs such as P&IDs, PFDs, and utility flow diagrams.
They coordinate closely with process, electrical, instrumentation, and package equipment vendors to ensure all automation requirements are captured and integrated into a cohesive design.
Engineers with EPC experience typically possess:
- Front-end engineering experience
- Detailed design skills
- Interface management
- Vendor coordination
- Large capital project exposure
Automation Contractors
Main Automation Contractors (MACs) such as Emerson, Honeywell, ABB, Yokogawa, and Siemens are responsible for designing, configuring, testing, and commissioning the Industrial Control System (ICS) platform itself. Unlike EPC contractors, MACs are typically not vendor-neutral and are focused on delivering solutions based on their own hardware, software, and proprietary technologies.
Their engineers are heavily involved in DCS, SIS, SCADA, networking, cybersecurity, and system integration activities, including application configuration, FAT/SAT execution, and site commissioning.
While MACs may integrate third-party equipment, they often operate within a defined supplier ecosystem, with specific controllers, I/O platforms, network infrastructure, and engineering tools selected to support their installed base and long-term service offerings.
Controls Engineers coming from a MAC background typically possess a deep technical or even product level expertise in DCS, ICSS and SCADA
OEMs and Machine Builders
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and machine builders typically specialise in developing highly application-specific automation solutions for sectors such as robotics, packaging machinery, material handling, motion control, and discrete manufacturing.
Unlike EPCs or Main Automation Contractors, their focus is often on the performance and functionality of a specific machine or production line rather than a complete facility-wide control system.
Engineers working in this environment commonly develop expertise in PLC programming, servo drives, motion control, robotics, machine safety, vision systems, and high-speed automation.
End Users and Plant Operators
End users and plant operators are responsible for owning, operating, and maintaining industrial facilities throughout their lifecycle. Automation professionals in these organisations are often involved in defining the high-level basis of design, developing project scopes, reviewing contractor and supplier deliverables, and ensuring that solutions comply with operational, safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
Compared to controls engineers working for EPCs, their focus is typically more aligned with asset performance, project delivery, standards compliance, and contract management rather than detailed PLC or DCS configuration. While this is a general trend, many larger facilities maintain dedicated controls and automation teams with strong hands-on expertise in control system design, programming, and plant support.:
Stop Searching for Job Titles. Start Searching for Skills.
One of the most common recruitment mistakes in industrial automation is relying too heavily on job titles. Titles such as Controls Engineer, Automation Engineer, Systems Engineer, Instrument Engineer, or SCADA Engineer are used inconsistently across the industry and often reveal very little about a candidate’s actual technical capabilities.
A Controls Engineer working for an OEM may spend most of their time programming PLCs and commissioning machinery, while a Controls Engineer working for an EPC contractor may focus on control narratives, cause-and-effect development, and design reviews. Despite sharing the same title, their skill sets can be significantly different.
The most effective automation recruiters search for the technologies, platforms, protocols, and engineering competencies required by the role rather than the job title itself. Searching for candidates with experience in DeltaV, Studio 5000, TIA Portal, Ignition, OPC UA, will often produce far better results than searching for generic titles alone.
Examples of useful technical keywords include:
PLC Keywords
Allen Bradley
Rockwell
Studio 5000
ControlLogix
CompactLogix
Siemens
TIA Portal
S7
Mitsubishi
Schneider Electric
Beckhoff
TwinCAT
SCADA Keywords
SCADA
Wonderware
AVEVA
InTouch
GE iFIX
CIMPLICITY
VTScada
Ignition
WinCC
FactoryTalk View
DCS Keywords
DeltaV
Experion
Honeywell
ABB 800xA
PCS7
CENTUM
ProSafe
SIS
Network Keywords
OPC
Modbus
EtherNet/IP
Profibus
Profinet
DNP3
BACnet
Wireshark
Cisco
Firewall
DMZ
MES and IT/OT Keywords
OSIsoft PI
AspenTech
MES
Historian
MQTT
Industry 4.0
IIoT
Data Aggregation
How Specialist Recruiters Build Boolean Searches to Find Controls Engineers
The best automation and controls recruiters use carefully configured Boolean searches that combine technologies, engineering activities, industries, and locations to uncover candidates who may never appear using standard search methods.
Here are three realistic examples that demonstrate how specialist recruiters search for different types of automation engineers.
SCADA Engineer (Control System Integrator)
This search focuses on engineers involved in SCADA development, integration, commissioning, and client projects.
("SCADA engineer" OR "controls engineer" OR "automation engineer")
(Ignition OR Wonderware OR AVEVA OR "FactoryTalk View" OR WinCC)
(OPC OR Modbus OR "EtherNet/IP" OR Profinet)
(commissioning OR integration OR FAT OR SAT)EPC Automation Engineer
This search focuses on engineers involved in design, specifications, and project engineering rather than PLC coding.
("automation engineer" OR "control systems engineer" OR "ICS engineer")
("control narrative" OR "cause and effect" OR "C&E" OR "I/O list")
(PID OR "P&ID" OR SRS OR SIL)
(EPC OR "detail design" OR FEED OR engineering)Notice that there are no PLC keywords. An EPC engineer may never have touched Studio 5000 or DeltaV configuration directly but could have extensive experience producing automation design deliverables.
OEM Robotics Engineer (Automotive Manufacturing)
This search targets engineers working on robotic assembly lines, motion control, and machine automation.
("robotics engineer" OR "controls engineer" OR "automation engineer")
(FANUC OR ABB OR KUKA OR Yaskawa)
(automotive OR OEM OR "body shop" OR assembly)
("servo drives" OR "motion control" OR commissioning)For automotive specifically, you could make it even more targeted:
("robotics engineer" OR "robot programmer")
(FANUC OR ABB OR KUKA)
(automotive OR Tesla OR Ford OR GM OR Stellantis)
("robot commissioning" OR "robot integration")These examples help illustrate one of the key principles of automation recruiting:
The most effective searches combine job function + technology + industry + activity. Searching for “Controls Engineer” alone might return thousands of profiles. Searching for “Controls Engineer” plus the technologies they use and the work they perform is where the real talent is found.
Using Google X-Ray Search to Find Hidden LinkedIn Profiles
Many recruiters assume LinkedIn Recruiter is the only way to find automation candidates. In reality, some of the most effective sourcing professionals supplement LinkedIn searches with Google X-Ray techniques.
LinkedIn’s search functionality can be influenced by subscription level, network connections, search quotas, and profile visibility settings. As a result, valuable candidates may not appear in standard LinkedIn searches, particularly for recruiters using free or lower-tier subscriptions.
Google X-Ray searching works by instructing Google to search LinkedIn’s public profile pages directly. This often uncovers profiles that would otherwise be difficult to discover through LinkedIn’s native search tools.
Example:
site.com/in
("automation engineer" OR "controls engineer" OR "PLC engineer")
(Rockwell OR "Allen Bradley" OR "Studio 5000")
(SCADA OR "FactoryTalk View" OR "GE iFIX")
"United Kingdom"
-jobs -hiringUnlike LinkedIn Boolean searches, Google supports additional operators such as site:, intitle:, inurl:, and exclusion operators (-keyword), allowing recruiters to refine searches more aggressively.
LinkedIn Boolean searches are generally focused on combining keywords using AND, OR, and NOT, while Google X-Ray searches are designed to search across the public web and filter results using Google’s indexing capabilities.
The most effective recruiters often use both approaches together. LinkedIn is useful for searching active profiles and engaging candidates directly, while Google X-Ray searches can uncover hidden profiles, specialist consultants, contractors, and passive candidates who may not appear prominently within LinkedIn’s own search results.
How AI Can Help Recruiters Build Better Searches
Many recruiters now use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot to generate Boolean searches.
Unfortunately, most recruiters provide poor prompts, for example “give me a Boolean search for an automation engineer with SCADA experience”
The output will usually be generic and incomplete.
The quality of the search depends entirely on the quality of the information provided.
The AI Recruitment Prompt Framework
Before asking AI to generate a search string, define the following:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. JOB FUNCTION │
│ What will the engineer actually do? │
│ │
│ Design • Commissioning • Operations │
│ Maintenance • Field Service │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. TECHNICAL SKILLS │
│ Which platforms, tools or systems matter? │
│ │
│ Allen Bradley • Siemens • DeltaV │
│ Wonderware • GE iFIX • Ignition │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. INDUSTRY BACKGROUND │
│ Where should the candidate have worked? │
│ │
│ Water • Pharmaceutical • Food & Beverage │
│ Data Centres • Oil & Gas │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND │
│ What type of company shaped their experience? │
│ │
│ CSI • EPC • MAC • OEM • End User │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 5. EXCLUSIONS │
│ Who should be filtered out? │
│ │
│ Manager • Director • Sales • Business Development │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OUTPUT │
│ A targeted Boolean search string │
│ based on skills, context and role fit. │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘Exclusions
Sometimes is necessary to include exclusions to your search. This is to filter out engineers working in sales or high-level management positions. Examples:
- Manager
- Director
- Sales
- Business Development
Example AI Prompt
Act as a specialist industrial automation recruiter.
Generate a LinkedIn Boolean search and Google X-Ray search for a senior Controls Engineer.
The candidate should have:
PLC:
- Allen Bradley
- Studio 5000
SCADA:
- GE iFIX
- FactoryTalk View
Networks:
- EtherNet/IP
- OPC
Experience:
- FAT
- SAT
- Commissioning
Industry:
- Food & Beverage
Company Background:
- Control System Integrator
- Engineering Contractor
Location:
- United Kingdom
Exclude:
- Manager
- Director
- Sales
Generate:
1. LinkedIn Boolean Search
2. Google X-Ray Search
3. Alternative Job Titles
4. Alternative Technology Keywords
5. Alternative Industry Keywords
This prompt will usually produce significantly better results than manually constructing a search from scratch.
Final Thoughts
Many recruiters assume there is a shortage of automation engineers.
In reality, there is often a shortage of recruiters who understand how to search for them.
The industrial automation ecosystem is complex.
Candidates use different job titles.
Different industries use different terminology.
Different companies develop different skillsets.
Recruiters who learn to search using technologies, project experience, organisational background, and industry context gain access to a much larger talent pool.
The next time a hiring manager says:
“We can’t find any controls engineers.”
Ask a different question:
“Are we searching for the right skills, or just the wrong job title?”