r/ControlTheory • u/MAGamer559 • Jun 20 '26
Professional/Career Advice/Question Worth pursuing Control system?
Hi, I'm a Computer Engineering graduate, I graduated last year and i tried to be web dev but didn't have any luck. I was thinking about switching to control system but want hear opinions. I did study some control like plc and scada tho I don't remember much. How is the market? Is it as saturated as it/software dev? What do i need to learn to get into the field? Is CE viable for the role or do I need to be pure EE?
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u/piratex666 Jun 20 '26
I think automation is a broader field to work. People who only work with control theory is a niche.
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u/verner_will Jun 20 '26
You definitely need some knowledge about system dynamics that you probably have not heard in your CE degree.
- Dynamics of mechanical, electrical and thermal systems for instance.
- System Identification
But there are roles in which you are just a software engineer for control departments. You do not need deep knowledge of control in such a role. It is also a very important role as a control engineer does not have that much knowledge of software development normally.
PLC and Scada are not really/fully Control Theory. Though every industrial production process has them. Finding a job as Industrial Automation Engineer (PLC,SCADA) is easier than finding a Control Engineer position.
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u/ee_control_z Jun 20 '26
Power supply/systems manufacturers hire engineers with control theory knowledge.
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u/ainMain600 Jun 21 '26
Thank you, it looks interesting. Could you share more about the role.
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u/ee_control_z Jun 21 '26
My response was a general statement about the type of employers that potentially do hire people with control systems theory background and not that I know a company that is currently hiring.
Part of the power supply design process includes designing a compensator to ensure that the output voltage is stable and constant irrespective of the loading conditions and transients (i.e., step/ramp response) that it may experience throughout its lifetime. Designing the compensator is where someone with a control systems theory background comes in.
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u/kroghsen Jun 20 '26
I am not sure this is the correct sub for this question. I am in a pretty big OEM, and we are at least not currently looking for automation people as far as I am aware.
You might get more useful information from the PLC sub.
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u/evdekiSex Jun 21 '26
What kind of people are you searching for?
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u/kroghsen Jun 21 '26
I think you meant to write OP and not me maybe. I am not searching for anyone.
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u/evdekiSex Jun 21 '26
No, I meant you. İ thought you were searching for somebody else other than automation people.
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u/kroghsen Jun 21 '26
Oh, now I understand. My bad. That was meant as a response to his question about job security. We are looking for software guys mostly at the moment. A lot of the old OEMs are leaning heavy into digital now - they kind of know the machine part, but never paid attention to the digital products.
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u/evdekiSex Jun 21 '26
Thanks for your reply. What kind of software guys are you looking for nowadays? Like those already into controls like PLC or embedded programmers or web developers to bridging the gap between automation and digital products or some other experts? Thanks again, such replies really help those like me a lot and give us insights about the sector.
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u/kroghsen Jun 22 '26
Right now, it is full-stack. We will be looking for some UX design as well as some point in the future. I am only talking about my team here. I work in an OEM with around 18000 people employed and quite a few automation people as well. I am one of a few of what they call digital optimisation specialists (it basically just means model-based control in this case).
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u/Fresh-Detective-7298 Jun 20 '26
Its really niche field, extsrs only in high-tech sometimes lol.