Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Controls Engineer
at Electra
🏢 About Electra
Electra is uniquely positioned as a company accelerating electric vehicle adoption through its vast, high-speed charging network across Europe. What makes them particularly interesting is their expansion into clean iron production, applying their engineering expertise to decarbonize heavy industry—a critical step beyond just transportation electrification. Working here offers the chance to contribute to both the EV revolution and industrial decarbonization simultaneously.
About This Role
This Senior Controls Engineer role focuses specifically on designing and building data acquisition and process control systems for chemical processing in clean iron production. You'll own the full lifecycle of control system design, from P&IDs through commissioning, integrating instrumentation, controls, plumbing, and fluid power systems. This position is impactful because you'll be enabling novel electromechanical and metallurgical processes that could transform how iron is produced without carbon emissions.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing P&IDs for new clean iron production equipment, programming Siemens PLCs using structured text for process control algorithms, and coordinating with mechanical engineers on fluid power system integration. You could spend the afternoon specifying instrumentation for temperature and pressure monitoring in chemical processing units, then troubleshooting control system issues during commissioning of new metallurgical equipment.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Electra Is Looking For
- Has 8+ years of industry experience specifically in controls and data acquisition systems (excluding internships/co-ops), with demonstrated progression in responsibility
- Possesses 3+ years of hands-on PLC programming experience using Ladder Logic and structured text, preferably with Siemens systems
- Has advanced expertise with instrumentation for voltage, amperage, temperature, pressure, level, weight, and flow measurement in industrial settings
- Has experience with full lifecycle control system design including P&IDs, I/O lists, control narratives, and panel layouts for chemical or metallurgical processes
📝 Tips for Applying to Electra
Quantify your 8+ years of experience with specific projects involving chemical processing or metallurgical controls—Electra needs proven industry experience, not just academic knowledge
Highlight your Siemens PLC programming experience prominently, as this is specifically mentioned as preferred in the requirements
Create a portfolio section showcasing your work on P&IDs, control narratives, and instrumentation specifications for similar industrial processes
Demonstrate how you've integrated instrumentation, controls, plumbing, and fluid power systems in past roles—this specific combination is crucial for their clean iron production
Include specific examples of leading installation, configuration, and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for control systems in industrial environments
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience with chemical processing control systems and how it applies to clean iron production specifically', 'Examples of owning the full control system lifecycle from concept through handover for industrial processes', 'Your approach to integrating instrumentation, controls, plumbing, and fluid power systems in complex industrial settings', "Why you're specifically interested in Electra's dual mission of EV charging infrastructure and industrial decarbonization"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Electra's pivot from EV charging to clean iron production—understand their strategic direction and how this role fits
- → The specific metallurgical processes for clean iron production (likely hydrogen-based direct reduction or electrolysis)
- → European industrial standards and regulations that might influence their control system designs
- → Their competitors in both EV charging and green steel/iron production spaces
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing academic projects or internships to meet the 8+ years industry experience requirement—they explicitly exclude these
- Being vague about PLC programming experience—they want specific details about Siemens, Ladder Logic, and structured text
- Focusing only on electrical/controls without demonstrating understanding of how they integrate with plumbing and fluid power systems
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!