Role DescriptionWe are looking for an experienced Sustaining Controls Engineer to join the Operations Team. In this role, you will be the technical backbone of our manufacturing operations, responsible for the stability, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the novel equipment used to manufacture Form Energy's Iron-Air battery.
Reporting to the Sustaining Controls Engineering Associate Manager, you will serve as the primary engineering escalation point for our Sustaining Automation Technicians. You will own the lifecycle of deployed systems, diagnosing complex controls and electrical issues, driving root-cause analysis, and independently executing PLC, HMI, and MES software improvements. You will work closely with both the Operations teams and the Manufacturing Control and Execution Systems teams to ensure maximum equipment uptime, throughput, and safety at Form Factory 1.
Relocation assistance is available.
What you'll do:- Production Escalation & Support: Serve as the primary engineering escalation point for Sustaining Automation Technicians to resolve complex electrical, controls, and OT network issues.
- Continuous Improvement: Independently identify, design, and execute PLC, HMI, and SCADA software changes to optimize existing equipment, improve throughput, and eliminate recurring downtime events.
- Systems Integration & Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and optimize MES data transactions within PLC programs, ensuring accurate product tracking and data handshakes.
- Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Automation Technicians on the factory floor.
- On-Call Rotation: Participate in rotating on-call responsibilities for off-hour escalations from the Automation Technicians at the factory.
- Vendor & Project Management: Work directly with equipment vendors and internal teams on equipment retrofits, upgrades, and resolving long-term technical debt.
- Safety & Compliance: Ensure all plant automated equipment functions safely and correctly, strictly following Safety and Environmental policies.
What you'll bring:- Experience: 6+ years of hands-on experience as an engineer working on industrial control systems in a manufacturing environment.
- Communication: Strong technical communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to translate complex engineering issues for operations teams.
- PLC Programming and Troubleshooting
- Siemens TIA-Portal (Required, execute independently)
- Rockwell Studio 5000 (Required, execute independently)
- Beckhoff TwinCat (Nice to Have)
- SCADA/HMI Systems
- Ignition Perspective (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Siemens WinCC & Rockwell FTView ME (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Robotics & Vision (Troubleshooting Focus)
- FANUC, Epson, Kawasaki (Nice to Have)
- Keyence and Cognex Barcode Scanners & Inspection (Required, basic knowledge/troubleshooting)
- MES Integration
- PLC Product Tracking & Handshake/Data Programming (Required, execute independently)
- Ignition Integration for Data (Required, with minimal supervision)
- Electrical & Safety
- Review/Redline/Read Electrical Schematics (Required, execute independently)
- Siemens ProfiSafe, Rockwell CIP Safety, and Hardwired Safety Systems (Required, execute independently)
- OT Network & Data
- Configure & Troubleshoot Managed Network Switches (Required, execute independently)
- iba & Octoplant (Required, execute independently)
- Problem-solving: Exceptional attention to detail in root-cause analysis, testing, and documenting procedures.
- Education: Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Controls/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent practical experience.
Where you'll work:This role is based at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, WV-an easy commute from the city of Pittsburgh, PA. This 550,000-square-foot facility is our hub for high-volume battery production and a leader in the new era of American energy manufacturing.
Relocation assistance is available.#LI-Onsite
#LI-JM2
Humanity is a cornerstone of Form Energy's culture, and we make sure our compensation and benefits reflect that. Form Energy offers competitive salaries, stock options, and a holistic benefits package to ensure all employees have what they need to thrive while working here.
When it comes to you and your family's health, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees - and 80% of healthcare premiums for dependents. This starts from day one. We also offer at least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 20 weeks for birthing parents), and generous vacation policies to give employees time to recharge when needed.
