Controls Engineer

Senior / Staff Controls Engineer

Bay Area, California | Full-Time Onsite

Industry : Automation, Test Equipment, Manufacturing, Aerospace

A launch and propulsion company in the Bay Area is hiring a Senior or Staff Controls Engineer to help automate complex test and production systems. These include large vacuum chambers, engine test stands, robotic welders, and other hardware used to build and qualify spaceflight equipment.

You’ll work closely with electrical, test, and software teams to turn technical needs into well-documented, reliable automation systems. This means writing control logic in Python, working with PLCs, selecting hardware, and making sure everything runs safely and repeatably.

The role suits someone who enjoys seeing their code move real hardware. You’ll take ownership of both new and existing systems and help raise the standard for how automation is done across the shop floor and test lab.

What You’ll Be Doing

Build control systems for things like vacuum systems, robotic tools, welders, thermal chambers, and custom test rigs

Write Python-based control software that talks to PLCs, sensors, relays, and other hardware

Design state machines and logic that control timing, safety, and repeatability

Gather requirements from other teams and translate them into clean, scalable control solutions

Troubleshoot live hardware and automation issues, sometimes in high-pressure test situations

Support and improve existing PLC systems using Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and others

Select sensors, actuators, power supplies, and safety components for long-term reliability

Maintain documentation, including system diagrams, I / O maps, code structure, and operating procedures

Help develop better safety and performance standards across the automation group

Mentor junior engineers and technicians on good automation practices

✅ What You’ll Need

At least 5 years of experience developing automation or control systems for real-world hardware

Hands-on experience writing and debugging Python for test or manufacturing setups

Solid understanding of industrial control systems, safety devices, and panel design

Experience with at least one PLC platform (Beckhoff, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, etc.)

Familiarity with protocols like Modbus, CAN, EtherCAT, or TCP / IP

Strong sense of how to make systems repeatable, testable, and safe

Comfortable working with large or sensitive hardware like vacuum chambers or engines

Able to document your systems clearly from design to deployment

Good communicator who can balance input from mechanical, electrical, and software teams

⭐ Bonus Points For

Experience building controls for vacuum test chambers or high-pressure systems

Background in automation for medical, semiconductor, or aerospace manufacturing

Familiarity with LabVIEW, SQL databases, or custom data logging platforms

Exposure to robotics, vision systems, or motion control

A thoughtful approach to automation that prioritizes reliability and long-term maintainability

If you enjoy solving automation problems that blend code with physical systems and want your work to matter on day one, this is the kind of role where you can make a real impact. You’ll work directly with the teams building flight hardware and help shape how testing and production get done.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Adam Slade

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