Principal Automation Engineer, Controls

Mach Industries • Huntington Beach, CA

5d

About The Position

Mach Industries is seeking a Principal Automation Engineer, Controls to own the architecture, development, and deployment of the company’s factory controls platform. The role will establish Beckhoff TwinCAT as the standardized controls platform, develop automation equipment for pilot production lines, and scale successful architectures through external systems integrators executing capital equipment programs valued at more than $20 million.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position spanning controls architecture and standards, production-code development and debugging, integrator design reviews, factory-floor commissioning, and production-ramp problem solving. The engineer owns controls work from initial architecture through factory acceptance testing, installation, commissioning, and Run at Rate. The role also mentors automation engineers and establishes controls engineering best practices across Mach Industries.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing industrial automation, controls, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Strong PLC programming experience and the ability to personally develop and debug production controls software.
• Demonstrated ownership of controls architecture for complex automated equipment or manufacturing systems.
• Experience taking automated equipment from design through integration, commissioning, and production.
• Experience designing or implementing machine-safety and functional-safety systems.
• Experience working directly with systems integrators, equipment OEMs, or automation suppliers.
• Strong understanding of industrial networks, distributed I/O, motion control, instrumentation, robotics, and machine integration.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot complex equipment in a production environment.
• Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to conform to U.S. export regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3, particularly IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
• Experience with Beckhoff IPCs, EtherCAT, TwinSAFE, distributed I/O, and servo motion.
• Experience developing reusable PLC software libraries or standardized controls architectures deployed across multiple machines.
• Experience serving as a controls technical lead for large, multi-machine automation or capital equipment programs.
• Experience with industrial robotics, machine vision, automated test systems, and advanced motion control.
• Experience integrating controls systems with SCADA, MES, historians, traceability, or factory data infrastructure.
• Familiarity with OPC UA, MQTT, or other machine-to-software communication architectures.
• Working knowledge of functional and machine-safety standards including ISO 13849, IEC 62061, IEC 61508, NFPA 79, and NFPA 70.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, battery, chemical processing, or similarly demanding manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the factory controls architecture and technical roadmap, standardized around Beckhoff TwinCAT.
• Define standards for PLC software, Beckhoff IPCs, EtherCAT I/O, motion control, industrial networks, machine safety, diagnostics, and factory interfaces.
• Develop reusable TwinCAT software libraries, machine state models, fault-handling and recovery strategies, and programming standards.
• Own controls and functional-safety architecture, including safety PLCs, safe motion, interlocks, guarding, emergency stops, and safety validation.
• Design, program, integrate, and commission automation equipment for pilot manufacturing lines.
• Translate pilot architectures into scalable equipment standards and specifications for production systems.
• Develop controls requirements, Statements of Work, design standards, and acceptance criteria for externally integrated equipment.
• Serve as controls technical lead for systems integrators executing automation programs valued at more than $20 million.
• Lead technical design reviews across electrical systems, PLC software, robotics, motion, networking, machine safety, and factory interfaces.
• Lead controls execution through FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, and production launch.
• Troubleshoot interactions between PLCs, robotics, motion systems, machine vision, instrumentation, safety systems, and factory software.
• Optimize machine sequences, cycle time, fault recovery, reliability, and OEE during production ramp.
• Maintain technical ownership until manufacturing systems achieve defined Run at Rate and production-readiness milestones.
• Mentor automation engineers and establish controls engineering best practices across Mach.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

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