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2015 Engineering Leader Under 40: Justin Nielsen, 37

Manager—Control Systems & Instrumentation, Excel Engineering; St. Paul, Minn. BS Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University

By Amanda Pelliccione, Project Manager and Director of Research September 17, 2015

Justin Nielsen, 37
Manager—Control Systems & Instrumentation, Excel Engineering; St. Paul, Minn.
BS Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University

Nielsen has provided a fresh perspective to broaden the services provided by Excel’s Control Systems group, as well as the client base that Excel Engineering serves. Given his technical abilities, he is able to understand what the client needs, ensure that the individuals performing the work are performing optimally, and provide quality services to Excel’s clients. He has a vested interest in sharing his knowledge with the engineers who work with him and helping them succeed in their careers. Nielsen has been involved in controls and automation engineering since 1999 and has a strong background in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and power generation industries. Nielsen has been the lead for control system engineering on several multi-million dollar controls system upgrade projects for key clients; he was a lead on-site control system engineer at the Genmab Brooklyn Park, Minn., facility and was also a technical consultant for Rockwell Automation. In his current role, Nielsen is involved in a variety of functions, including developing new business relationships, managing projects, mentoring junior level engineers, and continuing to broaden the services that Excel’s engineers can provide. Nielsen is an International Society of Automation (ISA) member, an ISA-certified automation professional, and a registered professional control systems engineer in Minnesota, as well as other states. At home, Nielsen is a dedicated father of two boys, who are 7 and 9 years old. He enjoys coaching their sports teams, such as baseball and basketball, as well as participating in any activity that captures his sons’ interests.