Senior Controls Engineer - PLC

TAE Technologies•Foothill Ranch, CA

About The Position

The Senior Controls Engineer designs, engineers, and implements programmable logic controller (PLC) systems for building, cooling, electrical, vacuum, and safety systems. The role includes PLC controller programming with advanced techniques and HMI interfaces; production, installation, commissioning, and integrated commissioning of PLC systems; and documenting, operating, and enhancing those systems. The engineer also supports physics operations for experimental systems and test beds. The position works with engineers and scientists to develop requirements for PLC-based control systems; designs hardware, distributed I/O, infrastructure components, PLC software, and human-machine interfaces; and liaises with outside vendors and suppliers. The role involves industrial or scientific control systems and large science or R&D projects.

Requirements

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science.
At least 3 years of PLC programming and large distributed control systems experience in an industrial or scientific environment.
Knowledge of the Allen-Bradley Logix range of controllers and PLC programming in LD, FBD, SFC, and ST.
Experience with distributed I/O using FlexIO or similar over EtherNet/IP.
Experience interfacing with EtherNet/IP or Profibus systems.
Knowledge of safety systems, including their planning, documentation, and implementation.
Experience commissioning network infrastructures.
Experience evaluating and documenting equipment permit, interlock, and sequence logic.
Experience operating and enhancing industrial or scientific control systems.
Experience interfacing with or designing scientific instruments or systems.
Structured approach to software development and documentation.
Experience with FactoryTalk View SE, HMI development, alarms and events, and trending.
Knowledge of modern HMI and alarm design philosophies following ISA-101 best practices.
Experience with source code control tools such as GitLab or SVN.
Networking knowledge, including Ethernet, EtherNet/IP, and other industrial protocols.
Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
Excellent communication skills with teams using intranet-based systems such as Atlassian or Redmine.
Ability to analyze faults and accurately document symptoms and solutions.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; the company is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Allen-Bradley course certification.
Knowledge of Ignition HMI systems.
Interest in large science or R&D projects.
Experience integrating software and hardware in a high-voltage or high-current environment, with consideration of safety and EMI factors.
Experience with InfluxDB and Grafana.
Experience programming and commissioning safety systems.

Responsibilities

Design, engineer, and implement PLC systems associated with building, cooling, electrical, vacuum, and safety systems.
Program PLC controllers using advanced techniques and develop HMI interfaces.
Produce, install, commission, and integrate PLC systems.
Document, operate, and enhance PLC systems.
Support physics operations for experimental systems and test beds.
Work with engineers and scientists to produce requirements for PLC-based control systems.
Design and specify hardware, distributed I/O, and infrastructure components.
Design PLC software using structured programming, aliasing, and UDTs.
Design human-machine interfaces.
Liaise with outside vendors and suppliers of PLC control systems.
Evaluate and document equipment permit, interlock, and sequence logic.
Analyze faults and accurately document symptoms and solutions.