Generalist Automation Controls Engineer

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States; on-site

Salary: $154,000–$266,000 per year, plus equity

Company

Builds autonomous factories combining AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing for aerospace and defense production.

What you will do

• Own controls design for robotic, CNC, and tooling cells from concept through customer run-off.
• Write and deploy PLC applications with reusable libraries and standards.
• Tune and commission multi-axis motion systems, including servos, VFDs, and steppers.
• Design electrical panels and industrial networks using EtherCAT, PROFINET, and OPC UA.
• Build operator HMIs, lead risk assessments, and integrate sensors and safety devices.
• Commission systems on the factory floor, lead root-cause analysis, and mentor engineers and technicians.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, preferably electromechanical, or equivalent experience.
• 6–10+ years of experience delivering automated cells end to end in industrial manufacturing.
• Production experience with Beckhoff and/or Siemens PLCs, plus servo and VFD tuning and commissioning.
• Experience programming a major robotics ecosystem such as ABB, Fanuc, or Kuka, including cell simulation.
• Experience with cabinet and panel design to NFPA 79 and UL 508A, and industrial networks including EtherCAT, PROFINET, and OPC UA.
• Must satisfy U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements: U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected-individual status, or eligibility to obtain the required authorizations.

Nice to have

• High-level programming with C# or Python.
• Machine vision experience with Cognex, Keyence, Zivid, or LMI.
• HMI development in Ignition or WinCC.
• MES and API integration using REST, MQTT, or OPC UA.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Flexible vacation policy.
• Equity participation.
• Relocation support may be provided in certain situations based on business need.