Controls & Mechatronics Engineer

Janicki Industries • Hamilton, WA

9h • $85,000 - $175,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At Janicki Industries, we turn complex ideas into real-world solutions through advanced engineering and manufacturing. Our teams design and build innovative structures, tooling, and systems that support industries including aerospace, space, defense, marine, and architecture . Across every role, from engineers and technicians to operations and support teams, our people help solve challenging problems, push the limits of design and manufacturing, and create solutions that make a lasting impact. The Controls & Mechatronics Engineer designs, builds, and tunes the physical control systems that make our industrial robots move, grip, sand, and manipulate heavy objects safely. This role bridges mechanical and electrical engineering with control theory. You will work with motors, actuators, servo drives, safety systems, and industrial robotic arms (KUKA or similar), writing and tuning the low-level control software that translates high-level commands into precise physical actions on AGVs with wheeled or tracked drive systems carrying payloads up to 50,000 lb.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related field
• Willingness to work on-site at our Hamilton, WA facility
• Due to our ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must be a US Citizen or of Legal Permanent Resident Status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b (a) (3).
• This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). Janicki will assist with gaining this access once employed.
• Special Access Program or other Government Access Requirements are mandatory for this position and requires candidate agreed to enter a Continuous Evaluation program.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with industrial robotic arm programming and integration (KUKA KRL, ABB RAPID, Fanuc TP/Karel, or UR Script)
• Hands-on experience with motor control, servo systems, or industrial motion control
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (CAN bus, EtherCAT, Modbus, PROFINET)
• Experience with PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff TwinCAT)
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 62061, ISO 10218)
• Programming skills in Python, C/C++, or MATLAB/Simulink
• Experience with electrical design tools (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN)
• Experience designing control systems for heavy machinery, AGVs, or large mobile platforms
• Experience with hydraulic or high-power electric drive systems
• Background in manufacturing environments, particularly aerospace or composites
• Familiarity with sensor technologies (encoders, force/torque sensors, proximity sensors)
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Controls, Mechatronics, or Mechanical Engineering

Responsibilities

• Design and implement vehicle-level control systems for heavy AGV platforms including drive control, steering, and braking
• Configure, program, and tune industrial robotic arms (KUKA or equivalent) for pick-and-place, sanding, and material handling operations
• Develop control interfaces and tool-change protocols for interchangeable end effectors (grippers, sanders, specialized tooling)
• Select and specify actuators, drives, sensors, and power systems for robot configurations
• Design and implement safety-rated control functions (emergency stop, safe speed monitoring, force/torque limiting) compliant with relevant industrial standards
• Perform hardware testing including actuator characterization, sensor calibration, and safety system verification
• Collaborate with navigation and perception engineers to implement coordinated mobile manipulation behaviors

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance with employer contribution
• Disability insurance as well as Life/AD&D insurance
• HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer contribution and FSA (Flexible Savings Account)
• 401k with employer matching
• Paid time off and paid holidays (including two floating holidays)
• Education reimbursement program
• Several shift options
• Premium pay for off-shifts
• Premium pay for security clearance if applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees