Controls Engineer (f/m/x)

Marvel Fusion•Fort Collins, CO

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Marvel Fusion is seeking a Controls Engineer to test, deploy, and maintain the control systems for their ultra-high-intensity laser systems and experimental infrastructure. This role involves installing and commissioning control systems in a new state-of-the-art laser research lab, ensuring reliable operation of laser systems, diagnostics, vacuum systems, and safety interlocks. The engineer will support daily operations by developing, maintaining, and enhancing control systems for improved performance and reliability. Collaboration with experimental teams to understand user needs and evolve control systems for increased facility uptime, efficiency, safety, and security is key. The position may involve occasional travel to support system integration, commissioning, and experimental campaigns. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy deploying and integrating control and automation systems, thrive in hands-on environments, and want to manage the full lifecycle of control systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field.
Hands-on experience deploying control systems for scientific research or industrial facilities.
Proficiency in E-Plan and/or controls hardware design.
Proficiency in at least one controls-relevant language or framework such as Python, LabVIEW, EPICS, or TANGO.
Practical experience with PLC programming, motion control, or industrial automation platforms.
Familiarity with hardware interfaces including serial, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, or GPIB.
Basic understanding of machine and personnel safety requirements for laboratory environments.
Strong communication skills and a collaborative working style.
Proactive, hands-on mindset with comfort working in evolving, sometimes unstructured environments.
Strong willingness and flexibility to collaborate on a wide variety of projects in different fields.

Nice To Haves

Experience helping stand up control systems for new laboratories, test facilities, or experimental laser or particle beamlines.
Background in EPICS, TANGO, or other large-scale facility control frameworks.
Exposure to high-power or ultrafast laser environments, accelerator facilities, or national lab settings.
Experience with timing and synchronization systems for pulsed laser or pulsed-power operations.
Prior experience working with cleanroom and vacuum systems.
Familiarity with machine safety standards (IEC 62443, IEC 61508) and safety-rated control architectures.
Knowledge of database and archiving tools for experimental data (e.g., Archiver Appliance, InfluxDB, HDF5).
Experience with version control, CI/CD pipelines, and containerized deployment for controls software.
Comfort working in startup or fast-changing environments.

Responsibilities

Support the testing and build-out of control system infrastructure for a new laser laboratory, including network architecture, hardware selection, software control, and safety systems.
Assist with the deployment of PLCs, motion controllers, data acquisition systems, and timing/synchronization hardware.
Help establish controls standards, naming conventions, and configuration management practices.
Develop, and test control system software for laser systems, diagnostics, vacuum systems, and safety interlocks.
Integrate diverse subsystems into a unified control framework, ensuring reliable communication, sequencing, and data flow.
Develop operator interfaces (GUIs/HMIs) that give experimentalists clear, intuitive access to system status and control.
Implement automated sequences for laser operation, alignment routines, and data collection.
Support control systems during experimental and development campaigns, troubleshooting issues and adapting configurations in real time.
Perform routine maintenance, software updates, and system health monitoring.
Maintain documentation including system architecture diagrams, wiring schematics, software repositories, and operating procedures.
Occasionally travel to other Marvel Fusion and partner sites, primarily within the US and occasionally worldwide, to support system integration, commissioning, and experimental campaigns.