Automation Mechanical Engineer II (Industrial Automation)

TL;DR

Automation Mechanical Engineer II (Industrial Automation): Designing, building, and deploying custom automation equipment for scalable production of space vehicles with an accent on industrial controls and systems integration. Focus on architecting control systems, executing PLC/HMI commissioning, and applying first-principles engineering to solve novel manufacturing challenges.

Location: Central Texas. Must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, or granted asylum

Salary: $123,714 - $173,199

Company

A spaceflight and exploration company dedicated to lowering the cost of access to space through reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems.

What you will do

• Collaborate on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment and provide controls architecture input from concept to detailed design.
• Design control system architectures, including network topology, I/O distribution, safety systems, and communication protocols.
• Develop offline simulations to validate control logic, robot paths, and system behavior prior to hardware availability.
• Execute online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, and robot industrial controls programs.
• Integrate auxiliary equipment and tools into unified control systems.
• Create comprehensive controls documentation, including sequence of operations, I/O lists, and network diagrams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Controls, or a related engineering field.
• Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience in industrial controls and automation systems, specifically PLC and HMI programming.
• Experience with industrial automation platforms (robots, material handling, CNC integration, etc.).
• Ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings.
• Experience with industrial safety system design, including safety PLCs and rated circuits.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, or granted asylum.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with industrial automation and machine safety standards (IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79, etc.).
• Experience with simulation software such as Plant Simulate, Process Simulate, or RobotStudio.
• Knowledge of industrial machine vision systems, particularly Cognex platforms.
• Proficiency in electrical CAD platforms like AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.
• History of delivering custom automated systems from concept through production ramp-up.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%.
• Stock options for all regular employees.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four weeks per year and 14 company-paid holidays.
• Education Support Program and paid parental leave.