The responsibilities of a process control engineer vary from industry to industry, but one constant is that the engineer will interact extensively with customers, clients, management, and support personnel in ensuring the smooth operation of automation and controls. Depending upon the specific industry in which this professional works, he must be skilled in assessing documentation requirements and generating designs. In-depth knowledge of testing, start-up procedures, and system integration options is also necessary.

Since there are so many departments involved in process controls, clear and concise communications are imperative for the process control engineer to be successful. He must be an inspirational team leader and be able to independently make decisions. Project management is a large part of the process control engineer’s job, and upon completion of each project, detailed documentation of the project from inception through completion is required.

The process control engineer must have demonstrated proficiency in the development and management of process control solutions, from collecting data through the design, configuration, and integration processes. He must be competent in programming and the development and implementation of engineering guidelines and standards. Knowledge is required in batch process manufacturing software programming as well as in Visual Basic and PC networking.

Besides technical knowledge and expertise, the process control engineer position requires exemplary interpersonal relationship skills. The success of each project and the subsequent satisfaction of clients depends on his ability to not only lead by example but also inspire support personnel to be creative, supportive of each other's ideas and efforts, and goal-oriented. He should demonstrate understanding of the project team's goals and provide appropriate technical guidance on design and engineering issues. The process control engineer needs to keep abreast of emerging technologies and applications to guarantee a competitive edge in the industry in which he works.

The process control engineer is often required to perform a myriad of tasks in a typical workday. As project goals and guidelines are altered by clients and/or technical roadblocks, he must be able to accurately assess the situation. He should then be able to present alternate solutions based on his knowledge and experience as well as that of his colleagues.

The educational requirements for a process control engineer can vary greatly depending on the specific position and industry. An undergraduate degree in electrical, chemical, or computer engineering is usually preferred, however. The number of years experience required also varies with the industry, position and job responsibilities.