Automation Engineer, Controls

Mach Industries • Huntington Beach, CA

3d

About The Position

Mach Industries is seeking an Automation Engineer, Controls to develop, integrate, and commission automated manufacturing equipment across its factories. The role designs and programs control systems using the company’s standardized Beckhoff TwinCAT platform and works with manufacturing engineers, automation engineers, equipment OEMs, and systems integrators to take equipment from concept through production. It is a hands-on engineering position involving PLC software development, integration of sensors, motion systems, robotics, vision, and safety devices, factory-floor commissioning, and troubleshooting during production ramp.

The position supports automated equipment from design and acceptance testing through installation, commissioning, production launch, and transition to production operations. The company describes itself as a rapidly growing defense technology business founded in 2023, with approximately 350 employees, developing autonomous defense platforms and scalable, decentralized defense systems. The role may involve access to technology subject to U.S. export control laws. Applicants must meet the stated U.S. person or authorization eligibility requirements; offers may be conditioned on authorization to receive controlled technology without sponsorship for an export license.

Compensation is listed at $115,000–$150,000 USD for Engineer and $150,000–$195,000 USD for Senior Engineer. The company also describes performance-based incentives and equity participation. Actual salary offers may vary based on experience, education, training, skills, and business considerations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 2 years of experience developing industrial automation, controls, or automated manufacturing equipment.
• Hands-on PLC programming experience.
• Experience integrating sensors, actuators, distributed I/O, instrumentation, or motion-control systems.
• Understanding of industrial electrical and controls systems, including 24 VDC I/O, relays, contactors, drives, motors, and industrial networks.
• Experience developing machine sequences, interlocks, alarms, fault handling, and recovery logic.
• Experience commissioning or troubleshooting automated equipment.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and troubleshoot electrical and controls systems directly on manufacturing equipment.
• Strong hands-on problem-solving skills and willingness to support equipment installation, commissioning, and production ramp.
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, qualifying refugee or asylee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations for applicable export-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
• Experience with Beckhoff IPCs, EtherCAT, TwinSAFE, distributed I/O, and servo motion.
• Experience with industrial robotics such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, Universal Robots, or similar.
• Experience integrating machine vision, automated test systems, instrumentation, or advanced motion systems.
• Experience developing HMIs or industrial operator interfaces.
• Familiarity with machine-safety concepts, including safety PLCs, guarding, interlocks, emergency stops, and safe motion.
• Familiarity with OPC UA, MQTT, or other machine-to-software communication methods.
• Experience with Git or other software version-control systems.
• Experience working with systems integrators or equipment OEMs through FAT, SAT, commissioning, and production launch.
• Familiarity with machine and electrical safety standards, including ISO 13849, NFPA 79, and NFPA 70.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, battery, chemical processing, or other advanced manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, integrate, and commission controls systems for automated manufacturing equipment.
• Develop PLC software using Beckhoff TwinCAT and Mach’s standardized controls architecture and software libraries.
• Configure Beckhoff IPCs, EtherCAT I/O, servo drives, instrumentation, sensors, and industrial communication networks.
• Develop machine sequences, state machines, interlocks, alarms, fault handling, diagnostics, and recovery logic.
• Integrate PLC-controlled equipment with industrial robots, machine vision, motion systems, test equipment, and process instrumentation.
• Implement machine-safety systems, including safety PLC logic, interlocks, guarding, emergency stops, and safe motion.
• Develop HMIs and operator interfaces for equipment operation, diagnostics, maintenance, and fault recovery.
• Support electrical design, controls architecture, I/O definition, device selection, and equipment documentation.
• Develop and execute controls test plans and equipment acceptance criteria.
• Work with equipment OEMs and systems integrators to review and debug controls systems.
• Support FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, and production launch.
• Troubleshoot electrical, PLC, motion, robotics, vision, networking, and safety issues on manufacturing equipment.
• Optimize machine sequences, cycle time, fault recovery, reliability, and OEE during production ramp.
• Maintain controls documentation, software version control, backups, and equipment configuration.
• Support manufacturing equipment through Run at Rate and transition to production operations.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries.
• Performance-based incentives through a bonus structure tied to individual and company performance.
• Stock options or equity participation.
• Healthcare, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off.
• Funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Competitive equity grants are included in most offers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level