Senior Controls Engineer
Inertia•Livermore, CA
•$200,000 - $260,000
About The Position
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Controls Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced control systems and software for high-energy laser systems. You will work cross-functionally with optical, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams to develop robust control architectures, real-time software, and system automation solutions.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in controls engineering
- Strong experience with: Control system design (PID, state-space, advanced control methods)
- PLC programming
- Embedded systems or real-time software development
- Programming languages such as C/C++, Python, or MATLAB/Simulink
- Experience with motion control systems (servo motors, precision positioning)
- Strong system integration and debugging skills
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with laser systems, photonics, or optical equipment
- Experience developing controls architectures and state diagrams and models for vacuum systems or cooling systems
- Experience with developing controls systems to meet safety standards (e.g., laser safety, personnel safety, machine safety)
- Experience with FPGA development or high-speed data acquisition systems
- Experience developing automated test systems
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and deploy control systems and software for large, complex laser systems
- Develop and maintain real-time control algorithms for precision motion, thermal regulation, and laser operation
- Architect and implement PLC, embedded, and PC-based control systems
- Integrate hardware components including sensors, actuators, motion systems, and laser subsystems
- Develop HMI/GUI interfaces for system monitoring, diagnostics, and operator control
- Perform system modeling, simulation, and performance optimization
- Lead system integration, testing, and commissioning activities
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex system issues in both development and production environments
- Establish and enforce controls standards, documentation, and best practices
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across projects
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
- company-paid holidays
- matching 401k
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
