Automation & Industrial Controls Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled Automation & Industrial Controls Engineer to spearhead the design, integration, and long-term operational excellence of our facility-wide control systems. This role is central to the reliable automation of critical systems, including HVAC, high-purity water, chemical delivery, and site-wide life safety monitoring.

Initially supporting our Tempe and Peoria, AZ sites during the build-out and commissioning phase, this position will transition into a key sustaining engineering role at our Peoria factory as we move into full-scale production.

Key Responsibilities

System Design & Lifecycle Management

• Engineering Oversight: Collaborate with specialized vendors to ensure PLC, DCS, and SCADA platform requirements are met during the design and installation phases.

• Commissioning & Startup: Lead operational testing and equipment preparation; identify and resolve system abnormalities during the critical construction-to-operations handover.

• Integrated Control: Manage and optimize control logic for a diverse range of utilities, including Ultrapure Water (UPW), Wastewater Treatment (WWT), gas/chemical distribution, and complex HVAC systems.

Sustaining Engineering & Reliability

• Root Cause Analysis: Utilize reliability engineering principles (such as FMEA) to investigate incidents, evaluate trends, and modify programming to prevent recurrence.

• Performance Optimization: Continuously refine PID controllers and HMI interfaces to enhance system efficiency and ensure 24/7 reliability.

• Calibration Program: Develop and maintain a rigorous instrument calibration schedule for transmitters, control valves, and positioners.

• Incident Response: Act as the primary technical support for facility interruptions, ensuring rapid troubleshooting and restoration of automated services.

Documentation & Compliance

• Record Integrity: Maintain comprehensive manuals, P&ID drawings, and system documentation for all industrial communication protocols.

• Standardization: Ensure all automation logic and hardware configurations comply with corporate guidelines and safety codes.

Required Qualifications

Technical & Academic Background:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Controls (I&C), or a related technical field.

• Professional Experience: 3+ years in industrial controls engineering (design and operations), specifically within high-tech manufacturing or capital-intensive industrial environments.

• System Expertise: Deep understanding of PLCs, DCS, SCADA, PID loops, and variable frequency drives (VFDs).

• Documentation Mastery: Proficient in reading and interpreting P&ID drawings and complex engineering specifications.

Physical & Operational Readiness:

• Field Capability: Ability to climb ladders, work at elevation, navigate confined spaces, and work in various weather conditions.

• Physical Fitness: Regularly lift up to 50 lbs and maintain medical qualification for respirator use.

• Project Experience: Direct experience with the commissioning and start-up of large-scale industrial facilities is highly preferred.

• Professional Credentials: A Professional Engineering (PE) license is a significant plus.