Controls Engineer (Industrial Automation)

Location: On-site in San Francisco, California, or Houston, Texas, United States

Salary: $150,000–$190,000 per year, plus equity

Company

Software-first, vertically integrated minerals company combining industry expertise, software, automation, and data-driven decision-making to develop critical mineral supply chains.

What you will do

• Lead equipment and plant-wide controls scopes from concept and modeling validation through procurement, design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, ramp, and operational handover.
• Manage equipment providers, technology licensors, and engineering firms delivering integrated mineral refining systems.
• Coordinate lab technicians, pilot plant engineers, process engineers, and project engineers to scale and commercialize novel refining processes.
• Select, procure, calibrate, and install instruments, valves, analyzers, and related control infrastructure.
• Support machine learning applications for industrial control and optimization.
• Help automate capital project execution workflows and develop advanced plant control algorithms.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of direct experience with networking and systems administration for control systems.
• Strong I&C fundamentals, including control-system network architecture, procurement, installation, commissioning, and fiber installation.
• Expert-level knowledge of Ignition and experience programming control systems.
• Experience managing plant networks and securely interfacing them with business networks, including reviewing P&IDs and developing system architecture drawings.
• Experience with brownfield modifications, greenfield equipment design, operating-equipment optimization, and operations support.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing, mining or mineral processing, chemical production, EPC, and medium- to large-scale capital projects exceeding $5 million.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity is included in the compensation package.
• Safety takes priority over speed and cost.
• Ownership, practical automation, and continuous simplification guide the work.
• Open collaboration and knowledge sharing are expected.
• Opportunity to help build an in-house engineering team through hiring, mentorship, and day-to-day management of junior engineers.