Controls Engineer – Safety and Utility Systems

Pacific Fusion•San Leandro, CA

12d

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to design and implement control systems supporting safety interlocks, radiation protection, and utility systems such as vacuum, pressure, and water controls. This position encompasses both hardware and software design, from requirements definition through commissioning, with an emphasis on reliability, safety, and compliance. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in industrial automation, safety-rated systems, and motion control. This role requires close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams, as well as end users, to develop system requirements and deliver fully integrated, standards-compliant control solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related field.
5+ years of experience in industrial automation or control system design.
Proficiency with PLC-based systems.
Experience with VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
Familiarity with systems operating at 24VDC and 480VAC.
Strong understanding of NFPA 70/70E/79 and functional safety (IEC 61511) standards.
Proven ability to develop system requirements and translate them into detailed design documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with safety PLCs and interlock logic design.
Background in large scientific facilities, or other high-reliability environments.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and system stakeholders to develop, document, and validate control system requirements.
Translate functional and safety requirements into detailed control logic, hardware specifications, and test criteria.
Participate in design and hazard reviews to ensure system requirements align with performance, safety, and reliability goals.
Develop control architectures for safety-critical and utility systems.
Design electrical schematics, control panels, and wiring diagrams for 24VDC control and 480VAC drive power systems.
Specify and integrate PLC, HMI, and communication hardware.
Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and motion control systems.
Implement and verify safety interlock and process control logic in accordance with SIS and NFPA standards.
Develop and test PLC programs using structured and modular programming practices.
Conduct system-level integration testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning support.
Work with instrumentation and field devices to ensure proper control and feedback integration.
Ensure system designs comply with NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, and SIS/IEC 61511 standards.
Develop technical documentation including I/O lists, control narratives, functional requirements, and validation test procedures.
Support safety validation, risk assessments, and functional testing throughout the system lifecycle.
Serve as a technical point of contact for controls-related aspects of multidisciplinary projects.
Work closely with fabrication, installation, and operations teams to ensure design intent and performance goals are achieved.
Contribute to continuous improvement of design methods, documentation standards, and controls best practices.