Controls Hardware Engineer

Pacific Fusion

$138K — $207K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field
  • 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system design
  • Proficiency with PLC-based systems
  • Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
  • Familiarity with systems operating at 24VDC and 480VAC
  • Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and IEC 61511 standards
  • Proven ability to develop system requirements and design documentation
  • Industrial Panel/Cabinet design experience

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with engineering teams to develop and validate control system requirements
  • Translate functional and safety requirements into control logic and specifications
  • Participate in design and hazard reviews for system safety and reliability
  • Develop control architectures for safety-critical systems
  • Design electrical schematics and control panels for control systems
  • Specify and integrate PLC and communication hardware
  • Conduct system-level testing and troubleshooting of control systems
  • Ensure compliance with NFPA and SIS safety standards and documentation

Benefits

  • Equity plan
  • 6% employer 401k matching
  • Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Full Job Description
Why This Role Matters

As a Controls Hardware Engineer, you will be an instrumental part of interfacing between project teams and gathering controls oriented requirements. Primarily you will take those requirements and design significant parts of our main control system. This role requires an individual who has a passion for controls engineering, and would like to grow in hardware design and implementation.
What You'll Do

  • Requirements & System Definition
    • Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and system stakeholders to develop, document, and validate control system requirements
    • Translate functional and safety requirements into detailed control logic, hardware specifications, and test criteria
    • Participate in design and hazard reviews to ensure system requirements align with performance, safety, and reliability goals
  • Control System Design and Implementation
    • Develop control architectures for safety-critical and utility systems
    • Design electrical schematics, control panels, and wiring diagrams for 24VDC control and 480VAC drive power systems
    • Specify and integrate PLC, HMI, and communication hardware. • Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
    • Implement and verify safety interlock and process control logic in accordance with SIS and NFPA standards
  • Software Development and Integration
    • Develop and test PLC programs using structured and modular programming practices
    • Conduct system-level integration testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning support
    • Work with instrumentation and field devices to ensure proper control and feedback integration
  • Compliance and Documentation
    • Ensure system designs comply with NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, and SIS/IEC 61511 standards
    • Develop technical documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, functional requirements, and validation test procedures
    • Support safety validation, risk assessments, and functional testing throughout the system lifecycle
  • Collaboration and Technical Leadership
    • Serve as a technical point of contact for controls-related
      aspects of multidisciplinary projects
    • Work closely with fabrication, installation, and operations teams
      to ensure design intent and performance goals are achieved
    • Contribute to continuous improvement of design methods,
      documentation standards, and controls best practices.
What You Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or
    related field
  • 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system
    design
  • Proficiency with PLC-based systems
  • Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems
  • Familiarity with systems operating at 24VDC and 480VAC
  • Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and functional safety (IEC
    61511) standards
  • Proven ability to develop system requirements and translate them into
    detailed design documentation
  • Industrial Panel/Cabinet design experience
Bonus Points For
  • Experience with safety PLCs and interlock logic design
  • Background in large scientific facilities, or other high-reliability
    environments
  • CAD experience, EPLAN experience is a significant plus!


Pay Range:

$138,100-$207,100 USD

Total Compensation & Benefits for Eligible Employees
  • Industry-competitive salary
  • Equity plan
  • 6% employer 401k matching
  • Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.

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