Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation

About the Team

As a Controls Engineer, you’ll help build and maintain the controls systems that run the manufacturing floor — contributing to architecture, PLC/HMI development, commissioning, proof of rate, and sustainment. You’ll work hands-on across the OT/IT automation infrastructure and networking stack, develop Ignition SCADA applications, and grow into deeper system ownership while partnering with senior engineers and cross-functional teams.

What You’ll Do

• Support controls systems across their lifecycle, contributing to architecture, PLC/HMI development, commissioning, proof of rate, and sustainment handoff
• Deploy and maintain OT/IT server infrastructure — Ignition gateways, historians, MQTT brokers, and jump hosts — backed by disciplined backup and change-control practices
• Help design and maintain the production OT networking stack (MQTT, OPC UA, TCP/IP), and diagnose protocol, timing, and VLAN segmentation issues down to the packet level
• Build Ignition Perspective SCADA applications, including views, tag architecture, alarm pipelines, historian configuration, and gateway topology
• Develop and debug PLC code on Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens platforms, producing structured, well-documented code suitable for high-volume manufacturing
• Apply OT security practices — air-gapped design, IEC 62443/NIST 800-82 segmentation, Purdue-model layering, server hardening, and secure remote access
• Partner with IT, Security, FactoryOS, and Manufacturing Engineering on cross-functional initiatives, and support the controls team in design reviews and cybersecurity buy-offs
• Handle hands-on network infrastructure across OT/IT — running and terminating network cabling, configuring switches, and automating backup routines
• Assist with configuring and managing the firewalls and AWS EC2 instances that support production infrastructure

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Information Technology, or a related field
• 4+ years of controls and automation experience in a production environment
• Solid PLC programming skills on Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens platforms
• Proficiency in Ignition SCADA development, including gateway modules (Tag Historian, Alarm Notification, SQL, OPC UA, MQTT Engine/Distributor/Transmission)
• Working proficiency across the OT stack — MQTT, OPC UA, TCP/IP, industrial Ethernet, VLANs, switching, and routing
• Working knowledge of OT cybersecurity, including air-gapped networks, network segmentation, server hardening, and secure remote access
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated or defense manufacturing environments (ITAR/EAR-controlled, CMMC, or FDA/aerospace quality systems)
• Experience integrating controls systems with MES and QMS platforms
• Experience deploying Ignition in redundant/high-availability gateway topologies
• Experience with torque tools and 2D/3D vision systems
• Familiarity with control panel layout, electrical component selection, and cable routing
• Familiarity with CAD packages such as SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, or AutoCAD