Control Engineering's 2025 Engineering Leaders Under 40 inspire future engineers as new opportunities in the field grow.
Control engineering, once a niche specialty within electrical and mechanical engineering, is rapidly becoming one of the most critical industrial disciplines. Automation, robotics and artificial intelligence will continue to reshape global production and infrastructure, giving control engineers a wealth of career opportunities across sectors ranging from manufacturing and energy to transportation and healthcare.
Our Engineering Leaders Under 40 can offer a lot of insights and good advice to up-and-coming control engineers.
Pennsylvania
Farmers Branch, Texas
Richardson, Texas
As these industries evolve, the skills required of control engineers are broadening, something our young leaders know all too well. Employers are seeking professionals who combine a strong foundation in classical control theory with knowledge of modern tools such as machine learning, cybersecurity and edge computing. Engineers who can bridge the gap between physical systems and digital platforms are especially valuable.
You can find some valuable information about the industry and prospects in the Control Engineering 2025 Salary Survey. Download it now for free.
The global demand for talent is strong, and industry analysts predict that as automation and smart systems proliferate, job opportunities for control engineers will continue to rise through the next decade. Salaries are competitive, with room for advancement into leadership, project management and specialized technical roles.
The demand for electronics and electrical engineers is expected to grow by about 7% between now and 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the demand for mechanical engineers will climb by 9% over the same timeframe.
For students and young professionals considering a career path, control engineering offers a future-proof choice. The field sits at the intersection of traditional engineering disciplines and cutting-edge technology, offering opportunities to work on problems that matter — from making energy cleaner to keeping supply chains moving.
At its core, control engineering focuses on designing and managing systems that behave predictably, efficiently and safely. Whether it’s maintaining the stability of a power grid, fine-tuning robotic arms on an assembly line, or ensuring precise temperature control in a pharmaceutical facility, control engineers play a vital role in making complex processes work seamlessly.
The future of the field is being shaped by several converging trends. First is the rise of smart manufacturing. Factories are becoming increasingly automated, relying on interconnected machines that share data in real time. Control engineers are needed to design these systems, integrate sensors and ensure that machines operate harmoniously within larger production environments. The growing use of digital twins — virtual replicas of physical systems — also requires engineers with deep expertise in modeling and control.
As industries become more automated, connected and intelligent, control engineers will remain indispensable. For those ready to adapt and innovate, the career opportunities are not only growing but also becoming more diverse than ever before.
