A Control Systems Engineer is keeping things under CONTROL at M.G. Newell.
Take a look behind the scenes of a day in the life of Raymond Bennett working as a Control Systems Engineer.
What is a typical day for a control systems engineer at M.G. Newell?
My typical day revolves around project management from the controls perspective. I balance and manage multiple projects, all with unique challenges and constraints. This project management manifests in customer correspondence trying to determine the best solution for their needs, cooperating with internal team members to ensure that our approaches align constructively with one another to facilitate what our end user not only needs but also wants, and of course, what I love most, designing and creating unique solutions to unique challenges. When I am not waist-deep in project work, I spend any spare free time taking advantage of any trainings or research I can. Our industry is constantly evolving, and we as controls engineers must constantly evolve with it.
If someone is interested in becoming a control systems engineer, what is one piece of advice you’d give them?
Be Curious Always.
No degree is a good substitute for wanting to learn and know—every great engineer I have had the pleasure of working with has had the WANT to know. Having answers is never as good as being able to find the answers.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I get paid to solve complex puzzles that change day by day and sometimes hour by hour. Every time I think I have seen it all, I am greeted with another new brain teaser. In addition to this, I have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow engineers, technicians, and fabricators every day, which enriches my life with fresh perspectives and valuable lessons that I would not otherwise encounter. Or in less flowery language, I get to do the work I love with people I like!
How long have you been a control systems engineer at M.G. Newell, and what education or background did you have to have to get this job?
I have been with Newell since November of 2024—I come from a diverse background of manufacturing, robotics, machine vision, and controls that I believe aligned and still align with our goal to venture into more non-process projects. I believe some of the other selling points that led to my hiring were less rooted in my technical capabilities and more so from my appetite for growth and continuous improvement. I originally went to school for film production but veered into electronics engineering technology shortly after starting my academic career because of how interesting I found the multidisciplinary curriculum. I finished, for now, now. Academic pursuits with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from FSU—I have consistently found that my associates have served me better from a practical standpoint, but my bachelor’s has gifted me with boundless resourcefulness in the face of confusion. I have also been told I am funny—intentionally or not, I am unsure!
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